Flag of Mozambique

Meaning and history of the flag of Mozambique

Mozambique's flag has three horizontal stripes: green at the top, black in the middle (edged with thin white lines), and yellow at the bottom. At the hoist is a red triangle containing a yellow star overlaid with an open book, a crossed AK-47 rifle, and a hoe. It was adopted on May 1, 1983.

Green represents the country's agricultural wealth, black stands for the African continent, yellow evokes its mineral resources, white represents peace, and red the armed struggle for independence. The elements within the emblem carry deep meaning: the book represents education, the hoe agricultural labor, and the rifle the defense and vigilance of the people. The yellow star symbolizes the spirit of international solidarity.

Mozambique is the only country in the world whose flag includes a modern firearm — specifically an AK-47 assault rifle — making it absolutely unique in world vexillology. The element has sparked internal debate over whether it should be changed, but so far the prevailing view is that the rifle honors the liberation struggle against Portuguese colonial rule. The flag is based on the colors of FRELIMO, the liberation movement that led the country to independence.

You can view the flag of Mozambique in high resolution above and download it in several sizes for personal, educational or reference use. To explore more, visit the full Mozambique profile, its map, or the current local time in Maputo.