Flag of South Sudan

The flag of South Sudan was adopted following the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended the Second Sudanese Civil War.[1] A similar version of the flag was previously used as the flag of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement. The flag of South Sudan is older than the country, as the flag was adopted in 2005, while the country became independent in 2011.[2][3]

South Sudan
UseNational flag
Proportion1:2
Adopted9 July 2005 (2005-07-09)
DesignA horizontal tricolour of black, red, and green, fimbriated with white stripes; with a sky-blue equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bearing a yellow star
Designed bySamuel Ajak
UseAlternate colors
Proportion1:2
UseAlternate colors with the star in its proper alignment
Proportion1:2
Man with South Sudan flag, 2011

History

When Sudan became independent in 1956, the predominantly Christian people living in the south of the country had no regional symbols, while the already dominant Muslim north displayed Islamic symbols on the national flag. Before independence, the British government had arranged for appropriate local symbols for the regions in Sudan, but the new government in independent Sudan had opposed the use of these symbols as being counterproductive to fostering national unity.

From the outset, the southern Sudanese felt discriminated against by the Islamic north. The southerners fought the Second Sudanese Civil War to gain their independence, followed by a peace agreement in 2005 that included a referendum on independence in the south. The referendum passed with overwhelming support in 2011, and South Sudan became officially independent on 9 July. In the 1990s, during their struggle with the north, the southern Sudanese had created a banner of independence, which would become the new national flag. The flag was designed by Samuel Ajak, who was an artist and brigadier general for the Sudan People's Liberation Army under revolutionary leader John Garang.[4]

Description

The flag bears similarities with the flags of Sudan and Kenya. It shares the black, white, red, and green of the Sudanese flag (although the colours' symbolism are different), in addition to having a chevron along the hoist. The horizontal black, white, red, and green bands of the flag share the same design as the Kenyan flag, and the Pan-African symbolism thereof. Another difference between the flags of Sudan and South Sudan is that there is a yellow star inside the blue triangle (like the flag of the Belgian Congo), representing the unity of South Sudan.[5]

Colour scheme

Colors scheme		 Blue Yellow Black Red Green White
CMYK68-18-0-140-11-99-1100-100-100-990-95-91-1499-0-68-450-0-0-0
HEX #45B4DB #FCDE02 #000000 #DB0A13 #018A2C #FFFFFF
RGB 69-180-219 252-222-2 0-0-0 219-10-19 1-138-44 255-255-255

Symbolism and representation

The South Sudanese government specifies that the colours of the flag are there to represent these descriptions of South Sudan:[2][6]

  • Black: Represents the people of South Sudan.
  • Red: Represents blood that was shed for the independence of the country.
  • Green: Represents the country's agricultural, natural wealth, land, as well as progress.[4]
  • White: Represents peace.
  • Blue: Represents waters of the Nile River, a source of life.
  • Yellow: Represents unity (of the states), hope, and determination for all people.[4]

Unofficial variant

The flag of South Sudan with a deep-blue coloured triangle is often used. In 2023, the country's Media Authority released an advisory discouraging the use of such flag variant. It is illegal in South Sudan to distribute an incorrect reproduction of the flag.[7]

Historical flags

South Sudan as part of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan

South Sudan as part of the Republic of Sudan
  • National flag of Sudan used in South Sudan (1956–1970)
    National flag of Sudan used in South Sudan (1956–1970)
  • National Flag of Sudan used in South Sudan (1970–2011)
    National Flag of Sudan used in South Sudan (1970–2011)

Other flags

Government flags

Military flags

Political party flags

Including militant organizations barred from participation in electoral politics.

Miscellaneous flags
  • One of the many flags flown in the capital of South Sudan on Independence Day.
    One of the many flags flown in the capital of South Sudan on Independence Day.
  • Flag of the Dinka people
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagFlag of the Dinka people
  • Flag of the Bari people
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagFlag of the Bari people

Sub-national flags

South Sudan has ten states, two administrative areas and one area with special administrative status. The ten states have adopted state flags.[9]

States

Administrative areas

Regions

See also

Notes
  1. Known as the Sudan People's Liberation Army from 1983 to 2018

References
  1. "Sudan Comprehensive Peace Agreement". Peace Accords Matrix. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  2. "South Sudan". CRW Flags. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  3. "South Sudan: Flags and Symbols and National Anthem". World Atlas. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  4. "Flag of South Sudan". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  5. "South Sudan Flag". facts.co. Archived from the original on 26 June 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  6. "Flag of South Sudan". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  7. Ninrew, Chany (25 August 2023). "Media Authority warns against use of wrong national flag". Eye Radio. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  8. Isnaeni, Hendri F. (20 April 2015). "Sudan Belum Merdeka, Benderanya Sudah Berkibar di KAA". Historia (in Indonesian). Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  9. "South Sudan". Vexilla Mundi. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
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