Flag of Rwanda

What the flag means

Law No. 34/2008 sets out the meanings. Blue is for happiness and peace, yellow for economic development and green for the hope of prosperity. The sun stands for national unity, transparency and the enlightenment of the Rwandan people.

History

In 1999 the government led by the Rwandan Patriotic Front announced a new flag, arguing that the old one had become associated with the 1994 genocide. Alphonse Kirimobenecyo, an artist and engineer, won a national design contest. Parliament voted to amend the constitution on 25 October 2001, and the new flag and anthem came into use on 31 December 2001.

Rwanda's 2008 flag law sets standard sizes for different uses and requires flags to be made of 100 per cent polyester.

Earlier flags of Rwanda

1. 1961Red, yellow and green vertical tricolour, identical to the flag of Guinea
2. 1961–2001The same tricolour with a black letter R in the centre

Flags of Rwanda's neighbours

• Burundi
• DR Congo
• Tanzania
• Uganda