History of the Kosovo Flag: 2008 Independence and Muhamer Ibrahimi’s Design
Kosovo’s current flag was created for the declaration of independence in 2008 through a public design process aimed at producing a new, multiethnic state symbol.
Why Kosovo needed a new flag
Before independence, several different national and political flags were used in Kosovo. A new state flag was needed that could represent the republic rather than one community alone.
2007 design competition
A professional competition was organized to create a new flag and emblem for the emerging state.
Who designed the flag?
The winning design is credited to Muhamer Ibrahimi.
February 17, 2008
The new flag was adopted as Kosovo declared independence on February 17, 2008.
What did the design contain?
The flag used a blue field, a gold map of Kosovo and six white stars in an arc above the map.
What did the designer say the stars mean?
Ibrahimi said the six stars represented the equal communities living in Kosovo, while blue expressed aspirations toward Euro-Atlantic institutions.
How was state use regulated?
Law No. 03/L-038, published in June 2008, regulated use of the state flag, coat of arms and anthem. Kosovo’s Constitution also states that state symbols reflect the republic’s multiethnic character.
Why the design is distinctive
Kosovo is one of the few countries whose flag shows a map of its own territory and pairs it with explicit multiethnic symbolism.
