Mozambique’s national flag is one of the world’s most distinctive because its emblem includes an AK-47 rifle. The flag uses green, black and yellow horizontal bands separated by white lines, with a red triangle at the hoist.

What is in the emblem?

Inside the red triangle is a yellow star bearing an open book, a hoe and an AK-47 with bayonet. The book represents education, the hoe agriculture and the rifle defence and the independence struggle.

History

The design grew from the flag of FRELIMO, the movement that led Mozambique to independence from Portugal. The present version was adopted in 1983.

• Current design: 1983
• Distinctive symbol: AK-47 rifle
• Other symbols: book and hoe