The current flag of Somaliland was introduced on October 14, 1996, when it was approved by the National Conference. Somaliland is a de facto independent republic which is recognized as a part of Somalia (that part formerly known as British Somaliland). Having established its own local government in 1991, the region's self-declared independence remains unrecognized by any country or international organization.
The flag in general contains the Pan-Arab colors of green, black, white and red. On the green stripe, there is the Shahadah in white script, similar to that of the Saudi Arabian flag.
Constitution of Somaliland, as approved on May 31, 2001, by referendum:
Article 7: The Flag, the Emblem and the National Anthem
1. The flag of the Republic of Somaliland shall consist of three horizontal, parallel and equal sections, the top section, which is coloured green and has inscribed in its midst in white in Arabic language La Ilaha Ill-Allah, Muhammadan Rasulullah ( لا إله إلاَّ الله محمد رسول الله, There is no god except for Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of God); the middle section is white and has at its centre a black star; and the bottom section is coloured red.
Read more about Flag Of Somaliland: Rules For The Usage of The Flag, Alternative Flags, Gallery
Famous quotes containing the words flag and/or somaliland:
“Our flag is red, white and blue, but our nation is a rainbow—red, yellow, brown, black and white—and we’re all precious in God’s sight.”
—Jesse Jackson (b. 1941)
“It is very considerably smaller than Australia and British Somaliland put together. As things stand at present there is nothing much the Texans can do about this, and ... they are inclined to shy away from the subject in ordinary conversation, muttering defensively about the size of oranges.”
—Alex Atkinson, British humor writer. repr. In Present Laughter, ed. Alan Coren (1982)