Flag of Somaliland

the Republic of Somaliland

Use	National flag
Proportion	1:2
Adopted	October 14, 1996
Design	A horizontal tricolor of green, white, and red, with the Shahada inscribed in white on the green stripe, and a black 5-pointed star charged on the white stripe

The current flag of Somaliland was introduced on October 14, 1996, when it was approved by the National Conference. Somaliland is a de facto independent republic which is recognized as a part of Somalia (that part formerly known as British Somaliland). Having established its own local government in 1991, the region's self-declared independence remains unrecognized by any country or international organization.

The flag in general contains the Pan-Arab colors of green, black, white and red. On the green stripe, there is the Shahadah in white script, similar to that of the Saudi Arabian flag.

Constitution of Somaliland, as approved on May 31, 2001 by referendum:

Article 7: The Flag, the Emblem and the National Anthem

1. The flag of the Republic of Somaliland shall consist of three horizontal, parallel and equal sections, the top section, which is coloured green and has inscribed in its midst in white in Arabic language La Ilaha Ill-Allah, Muhammadan Rasulullah ( لا إله إلاَّ الله محمد رسول الله, There is no god except for Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of God); the middle section is white and has at its centre a black star; and the bottom section is coloured red.

Design Symbolism

• Green - Prosperity
• White - Peace
• Red - The blood of the fallen heroes of the liberation from rule by Somalia.
• Shahadah - Islam
• Black star - The demise of the dream of Greater Somalia.

Rules for the usage of the Flag

The government set out principles on how to use the flag. It should be treated with respect and used very carefully and sensitivity. Because the Shahada has huge importance in Islam, the first pillar of Islam etc, regulations have specially been made on the usage of the flag.

Half mast

It is forbidden for Somalis to fly the flag at half mast because it has the Shahada (which says in Arabic There is no other God except Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah) written on it so it will be an un-Islamic and disrespectful way to treat the flag. Even if the President or someone with a high Somaliland governmental status dies, the flag does not fly at half-mast. When the second President of Somaliland Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal died, he received a state funeral and thousands of Somalis flocked to witness his funeral and mourn his death but the Flag of Somaliland was raised at full mast instead of the traditional half-mast gesture. Moreover, if a person is seen lowering the flag at half-mast, they might be taken to gaol or to court and it would be considered as a criminal offence. Similar rules, for the same reason, also apply to the flag of Saudi Arabia.

Alternative flags

Many Somaliland flags use orange instead of red

Although the aforementioned Article 7 clearly states that the bottom of the flag is red, many versions have been seen with a clear orange colour instead. Another variation is the orientation of the star, many Somaliland flags have the star pointing the opposite direction from other flags, this upside-down star version is used quite widely.

Some flags have a plain green band, without the Shahada, hence may be exempt from the half-mast rule (although this is unclear), other flags have the Shahada written along the full length of the green stripe.

Most Somaliland flags are of the ratio 2:1. It is based on the official ratio of the Union Flag of the United Kingdom, the former colonial power. Pictures of flags on the internet etc. often erroneously show a shorter flag (of ratio 2:3 etc).

Flags of British Somaliland

1903 - 1950

When the British annexed and occupied the area that encompasses Somaliland in 1903, they established a protectorate and made it part of the British Empire. The British adopted a new flag for the region (officially named British Somaliland). Like many Commonwealth countries, the flag had a defaced Blue Ensign: a blue field with the Union Flag in the upper hoist quarter of the flag. There was an image of a Kudu (an antelope native to the Somaliland area) on a white disc. The flag was flown on top of Somali fleet or Government buildings in British Somaliland.

1950 - 1960

In 1950 The Protectorate of British Somaliland's badge and flag changed and thus all flags which bore it. The flag still had the Union flag on the quarter-hoist. The Kudu's head and shoulders were retained and taken off to formed the most dominant feature on the new arms, although the antelope's face was now looking straight out at the observer. Between its horns, the Royal crown was inserted to symbolize the Royal family and the British Empire in general.

The badge was changed as well; it consisted of an escutcheon divided vertically into green and blue colours, having a chief with a golden Somali shield in front of two spears in saltire, heads downwards, in natural colours. The green portion contained an image of a white minaret. Moreover, on the blue quarter, an Arabian dhow in full sail on waves of the sea, with a golden anchor in the base. The Kudu's head was facing forward to the observer instead of facing left on the earlier version. Above, the Kudu was the Royal Crown between the horns. Underneath, there was a wreath coloured in green and yellow which formed the Crest.

When British Somaliland was granted independence on 26 June 1960 and united with Italian Somaliland on 1 July 1960, the flag was no longer used.

Gallery

1884 - 1903	1903 - 1950	1950 - 26 June 1960
State of Somaliland 26 June 1960 - 1 July 1960 Somalia 1 July 1960 - 18 May 1991	18 May 1991 - 14 October 1996	14 October 1996 - Present

External links

• Somaliland (Somalia) at Flags of the World