The national flag of the Republic of Malawi received official approval in July 1964, on the day of the country's independence.
Description and proportions of the flag of Malawi
The Malawi flag has a standard rectangular shape, which is accepted in most independent states on the political map of the world. The length and width of the flag are related to each other in a ratio of 3: 2. The flag can be used by government agencies on land and by the Malawi ground forces. Citizens of the country cannot, by law, use the banner for personal purposes. On the water, the Malawi flag can be used on both civilian ships and ships of the commercial and state fleet.
The rectangle of the Malawi flag is divided horizontally into three parts of equal width. The upper stripe is painted black and symbolizes the population of the African continent, where the Republic of Malawi is located. The middle field of the flag is bright red and, according to the authors, it personifies the blood that their patriots shed in the struggle for the independence of the country and other African states. The underside of the Malawi flag is light green and is reminiscent of the lush vegetation of Malawi's forests and the country's wealth of natural resources. On the upper black field of the flag, a stylized rising sun is depicted in red.
The colors of the flag are taken from the banner of the Malawi Congress Party, which played a major role in the struggle for the independence of the African state.
History of the flag of Malawi
The creation of the British Central Africa protectorate in 1891 led to the fact that Malawi, like many other countries on the black continent, became the colonial possession of Great Britain. The first flag of Nyasaland, on the territory of which modern Malawi was located, was in 1919 a blue cloth. In its upper quarter, the flag of Great Britain was located at the flagpole. On the right side of the panel was a coat of arms in the form of a shield with a jaguar standing on a mountain peak under the rising sun.
After gaining independence in 1964, the Republic of Malawi adopted a new flag, which flies on all flagpoles today. However, in 2010, the appearance of the flag was slightly changed. The stripes were arranged in a different order - red, black, green - and a round white disk with rays appeared in the center of the cloth, symbolizing the sun at its zenith. This drawing, according to the idea of the ideological authors of the flag, was to reflect the progress that took place in the development of the republic over the years of its independent existence.
The new flag was canceled two years later, in connection with the protests of the population, and since May 2012 Malawi again celebrates its day under the rising sun.
