![[Variant]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.fotw.info%2fflags%2f..%2fmisc%2ffis_vari.gif){kind=small}
2:3~ image byZachray Harden, 08 March 2010 - clickherefor an animated image
Flag adopted 25 October 2001
Thewebsite of the Prime Minister of Rwanda has the law (documented in French, Swahili and English) with details of the Rwanda flag and state emblem.
http://www.primature.gov.rw/component/option,com_docman/task,doc_download/gid,85\
9/Itemid,95/
The colour specifications are a mixture of RAL and Pantone. Article 6 (pg 30 and 31) lists the colors as the following:
Pantone 299 C 2X (blue)
RAL 6029 (green)
RAL 1023 (yellow)
RAL 1003 (golden yellow).
The attached construction sheet (page 42 and 43) shows the sun (and rays) bigger, than what is described in the text. The diameter of the sun is listed as 0.125 of the width of the flag. So, taking the Wikipedia image (400x600 pixels), the sun is now 75 pixels in size. That makes the sun very, very small and makes no sense to me.
Zachary Harden, 08 March 2010
The diameter indicated under the construction image is mistyped. It should be 0.215 instead of 0.125. If you count proportions of size from text, the result is 0.215 in all cases. So, I prefer to follow the size values written in text and construction image where the star is really bigger.
Zoltan Horvath, 08 March 2010
TheAlbum 2000 shows the new flag adopted in 2001:
The tricolor flag of blue over yellow over green, blue being the doublewidth of each of the other two, with a golden-yellow 24-pointed sun in the upper fly corner.
The two shades of yellow on the yellow stripeand golden-yellow sun are confirmed in use, as well as the lighter shadeof blue.
Željko Heimer, 31 Dec 2002
From the Rwandan Embassy in Paris:
NEW FLAG OF THE RWANDAN REPUBLIC
The new flag of the Rwandan republic is composed of three colours: green,yellow and blue.
The green colour symbolizes the hope of prosperity thanks to rationalexploitation of the force of Rwandan people and the resources of the country.
The yellow colour symbolizes the economic development. The Rwandanpeople must settle to work so as to reach durable economic development.
The blue colour symbolizes happiness and peace. The Rwandan peoplemust fight for peace which will bring them to durable economic developmentand happiness.
The sun and its rays of golden color: It symbolizes the light whichenlightens gradually all the people. This translates the unity, transparencyand fight against ignorance.
The new flag was designed by Alphonse Kirimobenecyo, a Rwandan artistand engineer.
Armand du Payrat, 03 Jan 2002
The new flag and anthem of the Rwandan Republic has been launched today (on 31 December 2001).
The flag corresponds roughly to the previous reports - blue-green andrising sun. However, the blue and green fields are separated by a yellowstripe and the sun is not rising. The flag has three horizontal stripes,blue, yellow and green (2:1:1). In the upper fly (!) there is a yellowsun with ca. 24 rays.
The image of the flag seems to have 1:2 ratio but the sun is a littlebit horizontally elliptical - so I guess the image is somewhat distorted,elongated horizontally, so that the sun should in fact be circular andthe flag ratio ~2:3.
Jan Zrzavy, 31 Dec 2001
Rwanda flag is in proportion of 2:3.
Pantones are:
Blue 3005c
Green 3415c
Yellow 109c
Sun yellow 130 c
(Note - two yellow shades!)
Source:SAVA Newsletter, quoting the official flag law of Rwanda.
Jaume Ollé, 18 Jun 2002
There is no doubt - the ratio of 6:13 was, as far as I know, a mistakeby the Rwandan Embassy in Paris. The proportions are officially 2:3 accordingto Chapter One, Article 4 of an Act dated 25 October 2001 (amending Article7 of the Constitution adopted 10 June 1991), and published in a SpecialEdition of the Official Gazette on 31 December 2001. The constructiondiagram therein contained shows that the sun is not centrally located betweenthe top of the flag and the base on the stripe. it gives a size for theouter rays and inner disk of the sun, and its exact position on the flag. It also, as does every other Official source, show the sun with its topray upright and not offset, but does not give a width for the blue ringaround the central disk.
Christopher Southworth, 31 Mar 2004
NEWS - 25 October 2001
"Amendment of the Fundamental Law of the Republic of Rwanda and provisionsof the bill on the National Flag
Parliamentarians voted on Thursday the amendment of the FundamentalLaw of the Republic of Rwanda. They also voted provisions of the bill onthe National Flag.
While on amendment of the Fundamental Law, the first, second and thirdparagraph of article three of the June 10, 1991 Constitution were modifiedas follows:
The National Flag is made of three colors : green, yellow and blue.These colours are arranged in ascending order starting with green thenyellow and finally blue colors. Both green and yellow colors cover halfthe whole flag. The other half, the upper side of the flag, is paintedblue on which sun and its rays are designed.
a) From the right hand side, there is a golden yellow color.
b) The motto of the Republic of Rwanda is "Unity, Work and Patriotism".
c) The Seal of the Republic of Rwanda is made of a green circle, whichfrom a rope in green, makes a knot on the lower side. On the upper sideare read imprints: REPUBLIC OF RWANDA; beneath the knot are found the imprintsshowing the motto of the Republic: Unity, Work and Patriotism. These imprintsare written in black on a yellow background color.
This Seal also includes the sun and its rays, sorghum, plant and coffee tree, basket, blue-cogged wheel and two shields one on the right and the other on the left".
Source:Thiswebsite.
Jan Oskar Engene, 26 Oct 2001
I found a news reports from AFP and basically containing the same informationconcerning a development in the Rwandan flag change process. Nothing seemsto be finally decided yet, but the reports are nevertheless interestingin my opinion.
Fromthisnewspage:
"NEWS IN BRIEF", Wednesday August 29, 2001
NEW FLAG, NEW FACE FOR RWANDA
THE Rwandan government has unveiled plans for a new flag, newnational anthem and new emblem, the pro government newspaperNew Timeshas revealed. The new flag will be yellow, green and blue, the newspapersaid on Monday, quoting Joseph Nsengimana, an advisor to PresidentPaul Kagame. Rwanda's current flag is red, yellow and green. Nsengimanasaid the yellow would symbolize economic growth, green would representprosperity and blue would depict good fortune and optimism.The new national emblem would be composed of several symbols, includinga green ring illustrating Rwandan unity and two shields representing patriotism.The lyrics for the new national anthem have been composed by prisonersin the southern town of Butare.
Rwandans have long held that the flag should be replaced as the colourred is associated with bloodshed that has characterized the country since independence, culminating in the 1994 genocide inwhich between 500 000 and 800 000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killedby Hutu extremists.
AFP"
Jan Oskar Engene, 16 Oct 2001
Today I have received an answer from a visitor. (My translation:)
"About the change of the flag of Rwanda, it is true that there willbe a change of the Rwandese national anthem and national flag, we are awaitingthese changes maybe for the end of this year. If you want I'll keep youinformed of these changes as soon as I know them"
Pascal Gross, 7 Dec 2001
The special convention of the ruling Patriotic Front of Rwanda (December23-24, 2001) has re-elected President Paul Kagame its Chairman, electedChristophe Bazimavo a new vice-chairman, and officially announced thatnew emblem, flag, and anthem would be launched on December 31, 2001.
Jan Zrzavy, 27 Dec 2001
On the Rwandan national flag, the discussion which tookplace at the time the new flag was emerging about its exactratio, colours and arrangement of the sun: Firstly, I wonder whether thereis much point in keeping this here when the flag is now well known and established.
Wandering around the Rwandan government websites got me to the Constitution,which says the following about the flag:
"Article 6
"The national symbols of Rwanda are the flag, the motto, the seal and thenational anthem.
"The national flag is made up of three colours : green, yellow and blue.
"The flag comprises the following colours from the bottom to the top : agreen strip, followed by a yellow strip both of which cover half the flag.
The upper half is blue and bears on its right hand side the image of the sunwith its rays of golden yellow. The sun and its rays are separated by a bluering.
"The law determines the characteristics, significance, usage and ceremonialsof the national flag."
Andr� Coutanche, 07 Feb 2007
![[Rwanda police flag]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.fotw.info%2fflags%2f..%2fimages%2fr%2frw%5epol.jpg){kind=small}
fromthis site, reported byDovGutterman, 16 Jul 2005.I'm afraid I am suspicious of the flag shown above since it consists of a badge on a square (andbezelled) button. Visiting the Police website
now only shows the badge and I can't find a flag at all. Dov, have you gotevidence that it was an actual flag?
Andr� Coutanche,07 Feb 2007
Brief information on the *preceding* police and gendarmerie emblems/flags can be found inDrapeaux et Insignes de Police et de Gendarmerieby Michel Lupant (volume 2, mars 1995; 162 pages, 300 dessins) (Police and Gendarmerie Flags and Insignia Vol. 2, March 1995, 162 p., 300 ill.) Self-
published.
Pages 149-150 mention and show:
Police shield: blue; eagle, bow, arrows (and name, jm) white; national flag in colour: b/w fig. 265 in Michel's book on p. 150 but also seenhere, second in second row:
"Police Nationale" meaning, of course, National Police. No flag is mentioned, but a sort of flag presence nevertheless.
Gendarmerie flag: national flag with the Gendarmerie shield in place of the black 'R'. Described pp. 149-150 and shown as fig. 266 on p. 150 comprising shield and flag.
No picture to be found on the net, alas. Basically, clasped hands in gold and also green twigs appeared on a shield of burgundy. On scrolls were written the words 'REPUBLIQUE RWANDAISE' (draped over top of shield) and 'GENDARMERIE NATIONALE' (in base of shield, these words separated
by a tiny national flag).
As to the current situation, Dov's dove is there - at least on the shield. Athttp://www.police.gov.rw/ there is no information on symbols (or the continued existence of gendarmerie) though.
Jan Mertens, 07 Feb 2007