Last modified: 2025-04-19 by bruce berry
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image by
Zoltan Horvath, 29 Sep 2024
Proportions: unspecified
Flag adopted 12 Oct 1954, Coat of Arms
adopted 10 Oct 1956
See also:
Somalia was created on 01 July 1960 following the independence of Italian Somaliland from Italy, which then immediately united with British Somaliland to form the Somali Republic.British Somaliland had gained its independence just five days earlier on 26 June 1960.Although Somalia is currently regarded as a "failed state" with a weak, but recognised central government authority, the new Federal Government of Somalia established in August 2012 is the first permanent central government in the country since the start of the civil war.
De facto control of the north of the country resides in local authorities, of which Puntland, Maakhir and Galmudug acknowledge the authority of the federal government, and maintain their declaration of autonomy within a federated Somalia. Southwestern Somalia and Jubaland, in the south, have largely abandoned the idea of autonomy. Somaliland in the north has declared itself independent from Somalia and does not recognise the authority of the federal government. Somaliland's self-declared independence is not recognised.
The British established a protectorate in 1886 over what became known as British Somaliland and the Italians colonised the south in 1889, which became known as Italian Somaliland.
Italy, under Mussolini, invaded Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) in 1935, in an attempt to colonise it.This action was condemned by the League of Nations, but little was done to prevent it or to liberate Italian occupied Ethiopia.
On 03 August 1940 Italian troops invaded British Somaliland from Ethiopia and succeeded in occupying the territory until January 1942 when Britain launched a campaign from Kenya with the objectives to liberate British Somaliland, Italian-occupied Ethiopia and conquer Italian Somaliland. By February 1942, most of Italian Somaliland had been captured by the British and in March, British Somaliland was retaken liberated from the coast with the help of Somali patriotic forces and placed under British military administration. Northern Somalia would remain a protectorate, while southern Somalia by agreement became aUnited Nations Trusteeship in 1949. In 1960, the two regions united as planned to form the independent Somali Republic under a civilian government. Mohamed Siad Barre seized power in 1969 and established the Somali Democratic Republic. In 1991, Barre's government collapsed as the Somali civil war broke out.
Neighbouring Djibouti was maintained as a French colony until it obtained independence in 1977.
In the absence of a functioning central government, various autonomous and semi-autonomous regions (such as Somaliland, Puntland and Galmudug etc ) have emerged and in the early 2000s, several fledgling interim federal administrations were created. The Transitional National Government (TNG) was established in 2000 and this was followed by the formation of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in 2004, which reestablished national institutions such as the military. In 2006 the TFG, assisted by Ethiopian troops, assumed control of most of the nation's southern conflict zones from the newly formed Islamic Courts Union (ICU). The ICU subsequently splintered into more radical groups such as Al-Shabaab, which battled the TFG and its allies for control of the region, with the insurgents losing most of the territory that they had seized by mid-2012.During 2011 and 2012, a Roadmap political process providing clear benchmarks leading toward the establishment of permanent democratic institutions was launched and it is within this administrative framework that a new Provisional Constitution was passed in August 2012, which formally designates Somalia as a federation.Following the end of the TFG's interim mandate the same month, the Federal Government of Somalia, the first permanent central government in the country since the start of the civil war, was also formed.
Bruce Berry, 03 Jan 2013
The following list is intended to provide an overview of many of the mini-states located throughout Somalia. [For an more up to date list go to this page - Ed].
The Federal Republic of Somalia was established on
August 20, 2012.
Specifically the constitution states:
Article 6. The Flag and National Symbols:
The flag of the Federal Republic of Somalia, as shown in section A of Schedule One, is a light blue rectangle in the centre of which is a white star with five equal points.
The emblem of the Federal Republic of Somalia, as shown in section B of Schedule One, is a blue shield with a gold frame, in the centre of which is a silver-coated, five-pointed star. The shield is surmounted by a decorated emblem with five golden heads, with two lateral ones halved. The shield is borne from the sides by two leopards facing each other under the lower point of the shield, along with two palm leaves, which are interlaced with a white ribbon.
Somalia has a national anthem which is “Qolobaa Calankeed”.
The Federal Member States of the Federal Republic of Somalia shall have their own flags and national symbols in accordance with the federal system.
The flag, as illustrated in the
Constitution, bears a star considerably smaller than that used previously.
However, no official specifications as to the size of the star are provided.
Cai Zhenyuan, 11 Sept 2012
The protocol manual for the London 2012 Olympics
(Flags and Anthems Manual, London, 2012 [bib-lna.html])
provides recommendations for national flag designs. Each National Olympic
Committee was sent an image of their flag, including the PMS shades, by the
London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) for their approval.
Once this was obtained, the LOCOG produced a 60 x 90 cm version of the flag for
further approval. So, while these specifications may not be the official,
government, version of each flag, they are certainly what the National Olympic
Committee believed their flag to be.
For Somalia : PMS 277 blue. The vertical flag is simply the horizontal version
turned 90 degrees clockwise.
Ian Sumner, 10 Oct 2012
Other sources for colors:
There is no official source that gives
exact colors of the national flag; these are all approximate colors from these
documented sources.
The Flag Manual - Beijing 2008 gives Pantone
color: PMS 277 (blue).
The Album des Pavillons 2000 [pay00]
(Corr. No. 6.) gives approximate colors in Pantone and CMYK systems:
Blue:
Pantone 299c, CMYK 90-20-0-0
Red: Pantone 485c, CMYK 0-100-91-0
Green:
Pantone 347c, CMYK 100-0-80-3
The Flags and Anthems Manual London 2012 [loc12] gives Pantone colors:
PMS 277 (blue).
The Album des Pavillons 2023 specifies
the colors of the flags in three color systems:
Blue: Pantone 299c, CMYK 100-89-34-21,
RGB 0-160-226
Red: Pantone 485c, CMYK 5-95-93-1, RGB 220-36-31
Green: Pantone 347c, CMYK 84-12-94-1,
RGB 0-149-67
Vexilla Mundi gives colors in Pantone
system: PMS 299C (light blue), and PMS White.
Wikipedia illustrates the flag, and
construction details, and gives color values as follows:
Blue: RGB 65-143-222,
Hex #418FDE, CMYK
71-36-0-13
White: RGB 255-255-255, Hex #FFFFFF, CMYK 0-0-0-0
Flag Color Codes gives the
following color values:
Light Blue: Hex #4189DD, RGB 65-137-221, CMYK 32-8-0-0,
Pantone 277, RAL 5012
White: Hex #FFFFFF, RGB 255-255-255, CMYK
0-0-0-0, Pantone N/A, RAL N/A
Zoltan Horvath, 29 Sep 2024
image
by Željko Heimer, 20 Jan 2003
The Transitional Federal Government of the Somali Republic adopted the flag for
all of Somalia which is exactly the same as the original Somali flag.
"Somali Transitional Charter. Transitional Federal Charter for the Somali
Republic" (Adopted February 2004)
"ARTICLE 6
THE FLAG AND EMBLEM
1. The National flag for the Transitional Federal Government shall be of
rectangular shape, azure in colour with a white star and five equal points
emblazoned in the centre.
2. The emblem of Transitional Federal Government shall be composed of an azure
escutcheon with a gold border, which shall bear a Silver five-pointed star.
3. The escutcheon shall be surmounted by embattlement with five equal points in
Moorish style, two lateral points halved, borne by two leopards rampant in
natural form facing each other, resting on two lances crossing under the point
of the escutcheon with two palm leaves in natural form interlaced with a white
ribbon."
Chapter Four describes the Somalia as being a Federation:
"CHAPTER FOUR
THE TRANSITIONAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARTICLE 11
1. The Transitional Federal Government of the Somali Republic shall have a
decentralised system of administration based on federalism.
2. The Somali Republic shall comprise of :-
a) The Transitional Federal Government.
b) State Governments (Two or more regions federated, according to their free
will)
c) Regional Administrations
d) District Administrations"
And finally,
"SCHEDULE II
POWERS OF THE STATE GOVERNMENTS
The State Governments shall control the following functions within their
territories :–
points 14 and 15
14. Develop state constitutions their state flags; and
15. State emblem.
Valentin Poposki, 16 Sep 2010
The five points of the star on the Somali flag simply represents the previous colonial
area where the mostly Somali speaking people live and lived.
Mohamed Aden, 13 Sep 1999
National Flag. CSW/CSW 2:3
Light blue flag with white five-pointed star.
I tried to find out whether there is some legal background of this flag available on the internet, but without success. It seems that a draft new constitution has been tabled but I was unable to locate the text on-line.I also tried to locate previous legislation relating to the flag, but once again in vain. The previous 1979 constitution is de facto not valid, and apparently no-one quotes it on the internet. The flag is older this as it dates from 1954. I was hoping to find at least a hint on how big the star should be "de jure".
Looking the Somalian
government site, it seems they use the same Coat of Arms, without any changes as shown
in Smith [smi82], which is the original
1956 design. The site also shows the white-star-in-blue flag
nicely.
Željko Heimer, 20 Jan 2003
The front page of the Portuguese newspaper Público today shows a photo by Ali Musa Abdi (of Agence France Presse) showing what seems to be a home-made light assault vehicle covered in an interesting camouflage pattern and with what seems to be a flag painted or pasted on the driver's door as shown below from http://jornal.publico.clix.pt/Default.asp?.
image
sent by
António Martins-Tuválkin , 06 June 2006
This is a medium or light blue ~1:2 rectangular panel with four small white
five-pointed regular stars pointing up at each corner and a larger one at top
center. This design attached.
António Martins-Tuválkin , 06 June 2006
Željko Heimer complains that he has not found any
legal text on the flag of Somalia. He refers to the invalid 1979
Constitution, whose relevant articles are quoted by Pascal Vagnat & Jos
Poels in their book "Constitutions - What they tell us about national
flags and coats of arms" (SAVA, Dec 2004). The Constitution was adopted on 25 August
1979 and came into force in 1984.
Chapter I (General Principles), Section I (The Republic)
Article 2. Flag, emblem and the capital
1. The national flag shall be azure in colour, rectangular, and shall
have a white star with five equal points emblazoned in its centre.
2. The emblem of the Somali Democratic Republic shall be composed of an
azure escutcheon with a gold border and shall bear a silver
five-pointed star. The escutcheon surmounted by an embattlement with
five points in Moorish style, the two lateral points halved, shall be
borne by two leopards rampant in natural form facing each other,
resting on two lances crossing under the point of the escutcheon, with
two palm-leaves in natural form interlaced with a white ribbon.
Therefore, the scan of the coat of arms we show below is wrong
and Smith is right: the ribbon should be white and not yellow.
Ivan Sache, 26 June 2006
Mr. Mohammed Awale Liban had been selected by the Somali labour trade union. Then members suggested the the Somalia national flag must be adopted by the legislative council in order that the Somali people could get to know their National Flag before independence. When the legislative council agenda reached the discussion on theSomali National Flag, Mr. Liban proposed that only the Somali members should discuss the issue. According to the legislative council's constitution each new proposal had to be voted on by all the council members. Mr Liban proposal was adopted and the Somali members of the council chose Mr. Sheik Omar to be Chairman. The temporary new chairman said that the issue of the national flag would be debated the next day, following which Mr. Liban went home and started to design the Flag. He chose the blue colour to represent peace and the UN and placed a white 5-pointed star in the centre. Each point of the white star was to represent the five Somali regions which had been divided by the colonial powers.
The next morning the council session started around 10:30. However, once the chairman had opened the session Mr. Liban requested a chance to speak, which was granted by the chairman. He stood up in front of legislative council members and stretched out on his chest the blue flag with a white star in the centre. As he kept on stretching the flag across his chest, the Somali members applauded and cheered while clapping for five minutes. The temporary chairman made a short speech in which he acknowledged the ability of Mr. Liban whose talent had produced such a beautiful flag less then 24 hours.
Mr. Mohammed Awale Liban said the blue color stands the United Nations
who help us to reach our dream of independence; white means peace and prosperity;
and the star is the five regions of the Somali people.
Faisal H. Jama, 08 Mar 2000
Garowe Online News, 25 June 2006 reports that
"Preparations for the celebration of the first day the national flag
rose on Somali soil are currently underway in Baidoa, the temporary hub
of Somalia's interim government.
Tomorrow, Monday, June 26, 2006, marks the 46th anniversary since the
first Somali flag was raised in the city of Hargeisa, after the
ex-British Protectorate of Somaliland gained independence from
European colonialism.
Interim Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf is scheduled to give the
keynote address in Baidoa to mark the anniversary of Somalia's Flag
Day, which will attract thousands of people and government personnel.
A similar celebration is also being prepared in Mogadishu, Somalia's
national Capital. This anniversary is special because the notorious
warlords have been expelled [from] Mogadishu and a semblance of law
and
order has returned."
The Flag Day in Somalia is therefore 26 June, celebrating the first
hoisting of the flag of the independent Republic of Somalia on 26 June
1960.
As it was the case in other African countries, the flag was adopted
before the independence, during the Italian trusteeship (1950-1960).
Ivan Sache, 26 June 2006
.gif)
image by Zoltan Horvath, 29 September 2024
In DK's Pocket Book of Flags (1997), it states:
The coat of arms was adopted in 1956. The leopards which support the shield and the white star were also found on the arms used during the Italian administration.And from Smith [smi80] (1980), with the same picture, except the scroll is white instead of yellow:
The arms of Somalia of 8 June 1919 featured a shield divided horizontally by a wavy white line. The top half of the shield was blue with a leopard in natural colour surmounted by a white five-pointed star. The present arms were adopted on 10 October 1956.Ivan Sache, 13 Dec 1999
The Constitution, Part I, Article 1 defines the flag and emblem as follows:
4. The national flag shall be azure in colour, rectangular, and shall have a
white star with five equal points emblazoned in its centre.
5. The emblem
of Somalia shall be composed of an azure escutcheon with a gold border and shall
bear a silver five-pointed star. The escutcheon, surmounted by an embattlement
with five points in Moorish stile, the two lateral points halved, shall be borne
by two leopards rampant in natural form facing each other, resting on two lances
crossing under the point of the escutcheon, with two palm leaves in natural form
interlaced with a white ribbon.
The
Constitution adopted in 2012 says almost the same paragraphs:
https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/som127387.pdf (Article 6)
The emblem
illustrations on covers of both Constitutions are with yellow (gold) ribbon, and
even 2012 the Constitution has a Schedule One (B) (page 61), which also
illustrates the yellow ribbon version. It means that the illustration interferes
with the legal text.
In my interpretation, only a white ribbon version
exists.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs uses and shows a white ribbon
version as it is defined in the Constitution:
https://web.mfa.gov.so/national-symbols/
Zoltan Horvath, 29
September 2024
In "Garowe Online" of 05 July 2009, Ali H. Abdulla quotes a poem written
by the Somali teacher, writer and patriot Xaaji Aadan Af-Qallooc (1914-2005)
(after the book Hal aan Tebayey X. A. Af-Qallooc by Maxamed Baashe).
Abdulla explains the poem as follows:
"1. Xaaji thanks the lord for the reality of a Somali flag being hoisted for the
first time in his life.
2. He compares the flag to the full moon which covers the world with its light.
3. He compares it to a Quranic verse or Sign revealed by the Lord.
4. He regards the flag as a sweet smelling breeze sent by the Lord from heaven.
5. He humbly acknowledges that he cannot praise the flag enough with his tongue.
6. He compares the flag to the sky on a cloudless day.
7. He describes the flag as being adorned with a flaming star that shines
brightly.
8. He describes the color of the flag as being blue. (He uses the Arabic word
Asraq instead of using the word Bluug that most Somalis use for the
blue colour).
9. He asserts that the flag was for East Africa like a rising sun that also
illuminated their way for them like the moon. (He probably alludes to the fact
that Somalia became independent in 1960 ahead of
Kenya, Uganda and
Tanzania and thus influencing these countries to also seek independence).
10. He mentions that the flag will unite the Somalis divided by the colonialists
into one country (The dream of many Somalis even in these dark times).
11. He finally thanks the Lord for Somalia being finally recognized by the
world."
(Source:
http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Opinion_20/A_new_Club_for_Somalia_based_on_the_Vision_of_Xaaji_Aadan_Af-Qallooc.shtml)
Ivan Sache, 11 July 2009