Flag of Central African Republic

Central African Republic – flag of a Troubled Country

The flag of Central African Republic, a francophone nation, has five colors.

There are four equal horizontal bands. The top band is blue, then a border of white, then green, and finally a yellow border.

These borders are split in the center with a vertical red band of the same width. It also has a yellow five-pointed star on the hoist side of the blue band.

The flag colors of this French speaking country are a combination of the French and Pan-African colors with the red, white, and blue from the French tricolor and the red, yellow and green from the Pan-African colors.

The red vertical stripe on the flag of Central African Republic is symbolic of the red blood meaning that Europeans and Africans have to respect each other.

The yellow star of independence symbolizes a bright future.

The flag is a ratio size of 2:3 and was officially hoisted on 1 December 1958.

The Presidential flag of Central African Republic is an almost square flag with a gold fringe on the three free sides.

The aircraft markings of its Air Force are a roundel which starts with a blue circle with the yellow star imposed upon it. Then there are three outer bands of white, green and yellow.

The green band is slightly smaller than the white and yellow.

In 1976 a new flag of Central African Republic was proposed.

It was to have only green, yellow, and white and a yellow crescent and star in the lower right corner.

It was never confirmed and the old flag of Central African Republic was re-confirmed.

History of Central African Republic and its Flags

The slave trade ravaged this area of Africa from the 16th to the 19th century.

French expeditions were constantly pushing out from the Congo region. They made treaties with local tribal chiefs and occupied the area in 1887.

In 1894, the French established a colony called Ubangi-Shari which is now the Central African Republic.

They joined with the country of Chad in 1905. Five years later they were joined with Gabon and the Middle Congo.

This became the French Equatorial Africa.

The French tricolor flag of red, blue, and white banners flew over the area. This was the first of only two flags to fly over this region.

The French brought with them the French language, culture and customs, hence it is another country where you can learn French or practise speaking your French.

At the end of World War II in 1946, the people of the French Equatorial Africa rebelled and forced French to grant self-government.

The colony was given its own territorial assembly and representation in the French parliament

In 1948 this territory voted to become an independent republic but stayed within the French Community.

In December 1958 during the ceremonies of the Legislative Assembly, the colors of the flag of Central African Republic were adopted unanimously.

The colors represent a merging of the French tricolor of red, white, and blue with the Pan-African colors of red, yellow, and green.

It was not until August 1960 that they decided to become a republic free from France’s domination.

However, this republic was overthrown in a coup in December 1965.

In December 1976, the Central African Republic became the Central African Empire and was run with brutality by Emperor Bokassa.

Another coup overthrew Bokassa's government in September 1979 and the Central African Republic was restored.

Yet another army coup took control of the country in September 1981.

In 1991, while under great pressure from the people, the country made a move toward parliamentary democracy.

The cash-poor government has encountered tremendous unrest over its failure to provide steady pay to civil servants and soldiers. There have also been many allegations of corruption and incompetence.

As a result, the government has been subject to many coups as generals, the army, and the people revolt against depressing conditions.

Their Parliament legalized opposition parties in 1991.

In 1993 the country had its first multiparty elections and a new constitution was adopted in 1995.
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