DJIBOUTI, FLAG OF

national flag consisting of a horizontal stripe of light blue over one of light green and, at the hoist, a white triangle bearing a red star. The flag's width-to-length ratio is unspecified. The French seized a small coastal area at the entrance to the Red Sea during the scramble for Africa in the late 19th century. At that time the only local historical flag was the plain red banner of the former sultanate of Tajoura. The name for the coastal area, before it was changed to French Territory of the Afars and Issas, had been French Somaliland. Changing political circumstances in the 20th century resulted in the independence of the area as a new country, which took on the name of its capital city, Djibouti. As in many other lands, the flag of a political party eventually was adapted to become the new national flag. The current flag is based on a design that was used by the Liberation Front of the Coast of the Somalis, an organization allied with the African People's League for Independence. It was officially hoisted on June 27, 1977, when independence was achieved. Djibouti is a multiethnic state, as reflected in the design of the flag. The Issa are a subgroup of the Somali, whereas the Afar, or Danakil, are related to people living across the border in Ethiopia; both are Muslim. The Afar colour is green, symbolic of prosperity. The Issa colour is light blue, symbolizing sea and sky and referring to the background colour of the national flag of neighbouring Somalia. In addition, the Djibouti flag has a triangle standing for equality, its white colour symbolizing peace. It bears a star for unity, coloured red for independence. Whitney Smith