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![[1996 Somaliland flag]](../images/s/so-mln96.gif)
image
by J.J. Andersson, 7 Mar 2002
Flag adopted 14 Oct 1996, coat of arms
adopted (unknown)
"The new Somaliland flag was introduced on 14 October 1996, the opening day of the National Conference. The flag had been approved earlier by the National Conference."
The five points of the star stand for either the five historical areas
of Somalia or the five areas where the Somalis live - now
there are the two Somalias (however tenuous) united, the eastern part of
Ethiopia (Ogaden?),
Djibouti, and E.
Kenya? This is probably one of the only flags I can think
of that expressly states its designs on other nations territory. Another
is the Bolivian ensign - it's simple existence states
Bolivia's long standing
claim for sea access, currently held by Chile.
David Kendall, 21 March 1997
The star symbolizes to Somali people, and the five branches: Ogaden,
Issas (Djibouti), North Somalia (British Somaliland), East Somalia (Italian
Somalia), and the Somalis of North Kenya.
Jaume Ollé, 23 March 1997
I include a link to the official
website of Somaliland government showing the correct flag.
From the constitution:
Article 7: The Flag, the Emblem and the National Anthem
The flag of the Republic of Somaliland shall consist of three horizontal,
parallel and equal sections, the top section of which is
coloured green and has inscribed in its midst in white in Arabic language
(the phrase) La Ilaaho Ila-Allaah Muhammad Rasuulah-Allaah (There
is no God, but Allah and Mohammad was his Prophet); the middle section
is white and has inscribed in its midst an equally sided five-pointed black
star; and the bottom section is coloured clear red.
J.J.Andersson, 7 Mar 2002
I was reading and surfing your site concerning the new or current
flag of Somaliland (green, white and red with Shahada and black star). I was
lucky to have been in Hargaysa, the Somaliland capital, in 1996 just before
the re-election of the late Somaliland president, Mr.M.I.Egal. The flag
that one saw around 1990 belonged to the SNM (Somaliland
National Movement). The SNM was the rebel group which started the long war
for Somaliland liberation against the former dictator of Somalia, Ziad Barre.
Their flag was three horizontal stripes of red, white and green with the Shahada on
the white stripe but without the black star. At that time, more than 10 years
ago, Mr Egal was not even in the country. There was no single political
party. The only political and military organization ruling the country
was the SNM. This group was supported by the people of Somaliland. So,
after the second flag (white with green disk), the Somaliland Parliament
decided to adopt a new and meaningful flag. In memory of the fallen SNM
heroes, the Somaliland parliament decided to adopt the flag of the movement SNM, but
with some changes. They put the green on top, white in the middle, red
at the bottom with the Shahada on the green and a black star on the white
stripe.
The meaning of the flag is:
Green for prosperity
White for peace
Red for the blood of the fallen heroes of the liberation.
Shahada is for Islam
The Black star is for the demise of the united Somalia's dream.
This flag did not belong to any party but to the SNM which Mr Egal
wasn't even a member of. Mr.Egal later passed away on May 2002
in Pretoria, South Africa, and was buried at his home port city of Berbera.
The new president, former Vice-president of under Mr. Egal, is Mr. Dahir Riyaaleh
Kahin.
Hassan Houssein, 27 Jun 2002
On JJ's site
it states that the Somaliland flag was adopted in 1997.
Jarig Bakker, 27 Nov 2002
![[Somaliland emblem]](../images/s/so)mln96.jpg)
image from this
website, reported by J.J.Andersson, 7 Mar 2002
![[Earlier Somaliland flag]](../images/s/so-mlan.gif)
image
by Steve Stringfellow, 5 Sep 1996
The old flag of Somaliland is plain white with a green disk in the center.
Around the disk the shahada in black (in a very un-calligraphic way).
Harald Müller, 03 Jul 1996
The current Somaliland flag may have been introduced after the proclamation
of independence on 1991-05-18, because I have seen some images of the independence
proclamation (unclear images on a TV documentary) and the flag hoisted
was horizontal red, white, green in proportions 1:2:1. Perhaps this was
the Party flag (or an version of it) of the current president Egal.
Jaume Ollé, 30 Sep 1996
Somaliland has just this year issued a new 50 Shilling note and four
commemorative notes celebrating its "Fifth Year of Independence". All the
currency of Somaliland features its coat of arms - the Kudu (?) that was
the emblem used on its old British colonial ensign.
Don Healy, 02 Jul 1996
The Republic of Somaliland (which isn't recognized as independent by any other country) has a National Charter (Constitution). In Article 1 - Section D and E - are described the national symbols of the republic. It's not yet known when the National Charter went into force.
Article 1
(...)
D. The National Flag of Somaliland is white in colour with a green
circle in its centre, encircling the green circle and written in Arabic
is the attestation to the one-ness of God, 'There is no God but ALLAH and
MOHAMMED is his messenger'.
E. The National Emblem is a FALCON which is brown in colour. Emblazoned
on the chest of the falcon and written in Arabic is the caption 'GOD IS
GREAT'. The FALCON carries on its head a weighing scale which is black
in colour. Beneath the weighing scale, two hands in a friendly shake are
shown. Along the side of the FALCON and in a semi-circle fashion, two Green
Boughs connected at the bottom with a decorative bow-tie [sic] are shown.
Above the FALCON and in the space between the tip of the Green Boughs a
caption written in Arabic reads 'In the Name of ALLAH, the Most Compassionate,
the Most Merciful'.
(...)
Source: Constitutions -
What they tell us about national symbols, by Pascal Vagnat and Jos Poels
(SAVA, Dec 2004).
Jos Poels, 02 Oct 1996
The chart Flags of Aspirant Peoples
shows:
25. "Somaliland Republic - North Somalia." Similar to above (1991-96
flag), with more inscriptions
Ivan Sache, 12 Sep 1999
Having watched a documentary on BBC2 about a guy tracing the Victorian explorer Richard Burton's tracks across northern Somalia, i.e. the area that declared itself independent as the Republic of Somaliland in 1991: The programme ended with a short bit filmed in Hargeisa, the capital, saying how Somaliland had established itself as a stable and democratic state, even if unrecognised by the rest of the world.
Anyway, I was keeping my eyes peeled for the Somaliland flag, and it
was shown twice, once flying and once hanging behind the platform at the
Somaliland parliament. The principle difference of both depicted flags
from the one above was that the Shahada is much smaller than on Mark Sensen's
image, separated from the top and bottom edges of the green stripe by borders
equal to half the height of the script and no more wider than twice the
width of the black star, possibly a bit less.
Roy Stilling, 13 Jul 2000
Image sent by Jens Pattke, 14 Apr 2009
Latvian vexillologist Ilmars Bite sent the following
link to the Russian
vex-list RussoVex which shows a photograph with the flag of the Somaliland armed forces.
Jens Pattke, 14 Apr 2009
Saylac and Lughaye state of Somalia was formed on 07 February 2012 to
govern parts of Somaliland as a member of the federal government in
Somalia. Mahad Abib Mohamud is the president of this administration,
which includes clans from Somaliland, Saylac, and Lughaye located
northwestern of Somalia. Somaliland has been controlling itself since
its breakaway.
Awdal is clan based division based on a 16th century sultanate in the
westernmost region between Somaliland and Djibouti inhabited by
Gadabursi subclan of the Dir. Somaliland and Adwalland are vying for
control of this region. Awdal State of Somalia wants to be part of a
federal government of Somalia. Its second anniversary took place in
Switzerland on 20 March 2012. The closest that Rashid Aw Nor Hirsi,
the president of Awdal State of Somalia, can travel is Mogadishu and
the areas where Somaliland army have no presence.
Khaatumo was announced in January 2012 after a meeting in Taleh town
of Sool and it comprises the Sool, Sanaag and Eyn regions. Khatumo was
established during a conference known as Khatumo2 and supports TFG
rather than Somaliland. The Dhulbahante clan, a sub clan of Darod
clan, is dominant in the regions of Sool, Sanag and Eyn and has
maintains the SSC militia fighters who fought against Somaliland in
Buuhoodle. Major politicians including Ali Khalif Galeyr, a former
Somali prime minister and lecturer at US universities, backed the
conference. The Khatumo state of Somalia will have three presidents,
rotating on a six month basis, and a supreme council comprising of
three members, and a cabinet of six members. The three routine
presidents are: Ahmed Elmi Osman (Amed Karash), Mohmaed Yusuf Jama
(Indhasheeel) and Nur Elmi (Biindhe). In March of this year, the TFG
officially recognized Khatumo. In March 2012, the TFG recognized the
state, but rescinded this few days a later.
Cai Zhenyuan, 16 July 2013
