Theflag of Gabon (French:drapeau du Gabon) is atricolour consisting of three horizontal green, yellow, and blue bands. Adopted in 1960 to replace the previous colonial flag containing theFrench Tricolour at thecanton, it has been the flag of theGabonese Republic since the country gained independence that year. The design of the present flag entailed the removal of the Tricolour and the widening of the yellow stripe at the centre.
The French gained control of modern-day Gabon in 1839, when a local chief surrendered the sovereignty of his land to them. TheBerlin Conference of 1885 solidified France's claim to the territory throughdiplomatic recognition,[1] and it later became part ofFrench Equatorial Africa in 1910.[2] UnderFrench colonial rule over Gabon, the authorities forbade the colony from utilizing its owndistinctive colonial flag. This was because they were worried that this could increase nationalistic sentiment and lead to calls for independence.[3] However, with the rise of thedecolonization movement in Africa, the French were obliged to grant limited autonomy to Gabon as a self-governing republic within theFrench Community. This was granted in 1958 after a referendum was held supporting the proposal.[2]
Gabon – considered "one of the more progressive" of French colonies – swiftly formulated a design for a new flag, which was officially adopted a year later in 1959.[3][4] It featured a horizontal tricolour identical to the current flag,[4] but with the yellow stripe at the centre narrower than the green and blue bands surrounding it. The French Tricolour was situated at the canton of the flag, making Gabon the only French autonomous republic to feature this "symbolic link" with France.[3][5]
On 9 August 1960 – just over a week before Gabon became an independent country on 17 August[6] – the flag was slightly modified. The change entailed removing the Tricolour at the canton and enlarging the yellow stripe at the centre, thus giving it equal width with the two other bands.[3]
The colours and symbols of the flag carry cultural, political, and regional meanings. The yellow alludes to theEquator – which cuts across the country[3] – and also symbolizes the sun.[7] The green epitomizes the natural resources of Gabon, as well as its "extensive forested area" that the Gabonese people are economically dependent on in the form oflumber.[3][4][7] The blue represents the sea,[4][7] specifically theSouth Atlantic Ocean along which the country has an "extensive coast".[3] WhileWhitney Smith in theEncyclopædia Britannica andDorling Kindersley'sComplete Flags of the World describe the centre band as solely yellow,[3][4]The World Factbook characterizes it as both yellow and gold.[7]
Theproportions of Gabon's flag are 3:4.[4] This uncommon flag ratio, which is enshrined by Gabonese law,[4] is shared by the flags of only three other countries –Democratic Republic of the Congo (some sources state that the proportions are 2:3),Papua New Guinea[8][9] andSan Marino.[10][11] Furthermore, the country's flag does not utilize the green, yellow and red colours of thePan-Africanist movement, in contrast to its neighbouring countries. Unlike other former French colonies in Africa, the flag consists of a horizontal tricolour, rather than a vertical one modelled after the flag of France.[3]
Banner of arms. Green field with three yellow circles forming the top third. The bottom two-thirds feature a yellow field, with agalleon flying the flag of Gabon at thestern sailing on the sea with three blue waves.
1990–2016
Horizontal green and blue bands separated by a yellow band at the centre, with thecoat of arms in a white circle in the middle.
2016–present
Coat of arms on a navy blue background with bands the same colours as the national flag in each corner, from the edge green, yellow, and blue
^ab"Gabon profile".BBC News. BBC. 15 January 2014.Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved4 September 2014.
^abcdefghiSmith, Whitney (19 July 2013)."Flag of Gabon".Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Archived from the original on 30 October 2022. Retrieved3 September 2014.(subscription required)
^Weinstein, Brian (1 May 2014)."Gabon – French control".Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved12 September 2014.(subscription required)
^abcd"Gabon".The World Factbook. CIA.Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved3 September 2014.
^Smith, Whitney (July 28, 2013)."Flag of Papua New Guinea".Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Archived from the original on April 13, 2021. RetrievedSeptember 3, 2014.(subscription required)
^"PNG Flag and National Anthem".Embassy of Papua New Guinea to the Americas. Government of Papua New Guinea.Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. RetrievedSeptember 3, 2014.
^Smith, Whitney (July 28, 2013)."Flag of San Marino".Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Archived from the original on April 13, 2021. RetrievedSeptember 3, 2014.(subscription required)
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