Mozambique's National Flag

The Mozambican Flag has been the subject of much debate as it is the only flag in the world to have a symbol of a modern weapon and as such many in the country want it to change.

After independence from Portugal the flag of the main revolutionary army, the Mozambican Liberation Front (FRELIMO), was adopted as the flag of the new country for an interim period until the flag that is seen today was decided on.

There is however still debate as to the flag's similarity to the old FRELIMO flag, but the main bone of contention is the image of an AK-47 with an attached bayonet emblazoned in the center of the insignia. It is debated by many that the weapon signifies violence and civil war and that it should be taken off the flag completely.

The original FRELIMO flag

FRELIMO was, and still is, the leading political party in Mozambique, and as such the movement's flag was used after independence and the new flag, revealed in 1983, is made up of many of FRELIMO's colours and insignia.

The feature colours are green, black and yellow and were derived from the flag of the African National Congress in South Africa. The Mozambican flag today has green, black, and yellow horizontal stripes separated by white fimbriations with a red triangle in the hoist. The star of Marxism in the hoist is overlaid a hoe, rifle and a book.

A new flag for Mozambique

In 2005, in a move to design a new flag for the country, a competition was held where over 100 entries were received. A new flag was selected as part of this New Flag Proposal but up till now nothing has changed. The opposition parties are particularly keen to have the rifle removed as they claim it represents violence and civil war but the ruling party has so far refused to accept any new flag.