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Somalia

Somalia Democratic Republic, Al Jumhouriya As-Somalya al-Dimocradia

by Steve Stringfellow
Proportions: unspecified
Flag adopted 12 Oct 1954, coat of arms adopted 10 Oct 1956

Somalia
History of the flag
Coat of Arms
Roundel

See also:

Somalia

Somalia adopted light blue flag in honour of the UNO that has the control until the independence. The star has 5 points one for each branch of Somalis: Issas of Djibuti), Somali of Ethiopia, Issak of Somaliland, Somalis of old Italian Somalia and North Kenia Somalis.
Jaume Ollé 27 Jul 1999

The five points of the Somali flag represents simple the previous colonial area where mostly Somali speaking people live and lived.
Mohamed Aden, 13 Sep 1999

History of the flag

In 1949, the assembly of the United Nations decided that Somalia would be under the former Italian colonial power as a trusteeship territory for ten years. There were three other governments who were member of united nations commission that was sent to Somalia and were sent as advisory council of the trusteeship administration of Somalia. They were Egypt, the Philippines and Columbia. In April, 1950 the Italian trusteeship administration took over power of Somalia,and the British military administration left Somali During the early months of 1954, the legislative council had been formed by the Italian trusteeship administration and advisory council of the United Mations. The members of the legislative council were composed Somalis, Italians. Arabs and Indians. They had to prepare all laws and legislation concerning the country the ten years of trusteeship territory of the United Nations. The members were not elected,but each political party, foreign community or any other recognized organizations had to select members who were representative the above mentioned organizations.

Mr. Mohammed Awale Liban had been selected by the Somali labor trade union. Then members suggested the the Somalia national flag must be adapted by the legislative council in order that the somalia people get to know their National Flag before independence. So the program of the legislative council agenda reached to be discussed the Somali National Flag. Mr. Liban had proposed that only the somali members should discuss the issue of their own Flag. According to the legislative councils constitution each new proposal had to be voted on by the Legislative council members. Mr liban succeeded his suggestion.while members of legislative councils which now only Somalis. They choose the chairman for Mr. Sheik Omar. Then the temporary new chairman said that the agenda will debate the next day. Therefore Mr. liban went home and started to design the Flag. Of course he had chosen a blue color and the middle was a white star.however, each point of the white star would represent the five Somalia regions, which were divided by the colonial powers.

The next morning the session started around 10:30. However, when the chairman had opened the session Mr. Liban had requested to the chairman to give him a chance to speak, the chairman allowed him. He stood up in front of legislative council members and stretched out on his chest the blue Flag with a white star in the middle. therefore as he kept on stretching on his chest, then one of the Somali members applauded and cheered while clapping for five minutes. The Somalia temporary chairman had made short speech in which he mentioned the greatness and ability of Mr. Liban whose talent had produced such a beautiful Flag less then 24 hours.

Mr. Mohammed Awale Liban said the blue color stands the United Nations who help us to reach our dream of independence; white means peace and prosperity; the star is the five regions of Somali.
Faisal H. Jama, 8 Mar 2000

Coat of Arms

scan by Jarig Bakker

In DK's Pocket Book of Flags (1997), it is noted:

The coat of arms was adopted in 1956. The leopards which support the shield and the white star were also found on the arms used during the Italian administration.

And from Smith (1980), with the same picture, except the scroll white instead of yellow:

The arms of Somalia of 8 June 1919 featured a shield divided horizontally by a wavy white line. The top half of the shield was blue with a leopard in natural colour surmonted by a white five-pointed star. The present arms were adopted on 10 October 1956.

Ivan Sache, 13 Dec 1999

Roundel

by Michael Hanson, 19 Mar 2002

Album des Pavillons (flagbook published by the French Navy, often updated and corrected and therefore reliable) shows the Somali roundel as a blue disc with a white five-pointed star, the points of the star nearly touching the border of the disc.
This of course does not prove that there are still aircrafts showing this roundel. Encyclopaedia Universalis Yearbook says: "Armed forces: Tribal war since 1991."
Ivan Sache, 1 Feb 2000

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