View source for Flag of Equatorial Guinea

{{short description|National flag}}
{{Infobox flag
| Name       = Republic of Equatorial Guinea
| Article    =
| Type       =
| Image      = Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg
| Nickname   =
| Morenicks  =
| Use        = 011011
| Symbol     = {{FIAV|011011}} {{FIAV|normal}} {{FIAV|Mirror}}
| Proportion = 2:3
| Adoption   = {{start date and age|1968|10|12}} (original version)<br>
{{start date and age|1979|8|21}} (current version)
| Design     = A horizontal tricolor of green, white and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side and the National [[Coat of arms of Equatorial Guinea]] centered in the white band.
}}
[[File:Jv.jpg|thumb|People with Equatorial Guinea flag]]
[[File:La drapeau.jpg|thumb|A football fan holding an Equatorial Guinea flag]]

The '''flag of Equatorial Guinea''' ({{langx|es|Bandera de Guinea Ecuatorial}}; {{langx|fr|Drapeau de la Guinée équatoriale}}; {{langx|pt|Bandeira da Guiné Equatorial}}) was adopted on August 21, 1979.<ref name="Worldflags" /> The six stars on the flag represent [[Equatorial Guinea]]'s mainland and five islands. Under the rule of dictator [[Francisco Nguema]] the flag was modified and a different national emblem was used in it. After he was deposed the original flag was restored.

== Features and symbolism ==

The flag is a horizontal [[Triband (flag)|tricolor]], with [[green]], [[white]] and [[red]] stripes and a [[blue]] triangle at the [[Flag terminology|hoist]]. Green symbolizes the natural resources, agriculture and jungles of the country. Blue symbolizes the sea, which connects the mainland with the islands. White symbolizes peace. Red symbolizes the blood shed by the fighters for [[independence]].<ref name="Brittanica">{{cite web|last1=Smith|first1=Whitney|title=flag of Equatorial Guinea|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1355219/flag-of-Equatorial-Guinea|website=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=17 September 2014|date=19 July 2013|archive-date=7 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607033113/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1355219/flag-of-Equatorial-Guinea|url-status=live}}</ref>

== History ==

The flag was first flown  the day of independence, October 12, 1968, and it showed the national emblem in the center. However, in 1973, during the regime of [[Francisco Nguema]], a different national emblem was used on the flag. Under Nguema's rule, the coat of arms consisted of several tools, a sword and a cockerel. The modified national motto Trabajo (work), and Unidad, Paz, Justicia (Unity, Peace, Justice) was written in two stripes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/gq_1973.html#nguema |title=Equatorial Guinea (1973 - 1979) |publisher=Crwflags.com |access-date=17 September 2014 |archive-date=23 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023060754/https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/Flags/gq_1973.html#nguema |url-status=live }}</ref> The original [[coat of arms of Equatorial Guinea|coat of arms]] was restored after Nguema was deposed on 21 August 1979.<ref name="Brittanica" /> The arms consists of a silver shield with a [[Ceiba pentandra|silk-cotton tree]], or [[Ceiba]] in the local language, which was derived from the arms of Rio Muni. Above the shield is an arc of 6 six-pointed yellow stars, that represent Rio Muni and the offshore islands. Beneath the shield is a silver scroll with the national motto, ''Unidad, Paz, Justicia'' ("Unity, Peace, Justice").<ref name="Kamath">{{cite book|author=Anjali Kamath|title=Flag Book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F5HxLS-NKLIC&pg=PT16|publisher=Popular Prakashan|isbn=978-81-7991-512-7|page=16}}</ref> It is considered that under a silk-cotton tree a treaty was signed between Spain and a local ruler that marked the beginning of the colonial rule.<ref name="Worldflags">{{cite web|title=National Flag of Equatorial Guinea|url=http://www.worldflags101.com/e/equatorial-guinea-flag.aspx|website=Worldflags|access-date=17 September 2014|archive-date=16 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716173539/http://www.worldflags101.com/e/equatorial-guinea-flag.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>
<gallery>
File:Flag of Spain (1785–1873, 1875–1931).svg|Flag used during Spanish colonisation (1785–1931)
File:Flag of Equatorial Guinea (without coat of arms).svg|{{FIAV|Historical}} First flag (1968–1969)
File:Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg|1969–1973, same as modern flag
File:Flag of Equatorial Guinea 1973-1979.svg|{{FIAV|Historical}} Second flag during the rule of Francisco Nguema (1973–79)
</gallery>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{FOTW|id=gq|title=Equatorial Guinea}}

{{Africa topic|Flag of|title=[[Flags of Africa]]}}

{{Equatorial Guinea topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Equatorial Guinea, Flag of}}
[[Category:National symbols of Equatorial Guinea|Flag]]
[[Category:National flags]]
[[Category:Flags introduced in 1979]]
[[Category:Flags of Africa]]
[[Category:Flags with coats of arms]]
[[Category:Flags including Spanish]]