The flag of the Republic of Congo, composed of green, yellow and red, was approved on August 18, 1959 by a constituent assembly. It was adopted as the official flag on September 15, 1959 and has not changed after independence.
However, in 1970 until the early 1990s, a red flag was used due to the socialist orientation of the country. After the transition to a multiparty political system and market economy in the early 1990s, the newly installed regime returned to the original flag on June 10, 1991.
The current Congolese flag is diagonally divided and composed of 3 stripes: yellow, green and red. Each color symbolizes a geographical or historical aspect of the Republic of Congo. The yellow stripe symbolizes the friendship and nobility of the people, while the green stripe represents agriculture and the rich forests of the Congo. The red color is associated with the blood shed during the independence struggle.
The national anthem of the Republic of Congo is "La Congolaise". It was adopted in 1959. The lyrics of the anthem were composed by Jacques Tondras and Georges Kibanghi, the music being by Jean Roger and Joseph Spadiliere.
La Congolaise
En ce jour le soleil se lève
Et notre Congo resplendit.
Une longue. Nuit s’achève,
Un grand bonheur a surgi.
Chantons tous avec ivresse
Le chant de la liberté.
CHORUS : Congolais, debout fièrement partout,
Proclamons l’union de notre nation,
Oublions ce qui nous divise,
Soyons plus unis que jamais,
Vivons pour notre devise :
Unité, travail, progrès!
Des forêts jusqu’à la savanne,
Des savannes jusqu’à la mer,
Un seul peuple, une seule âme,
Un seul cœur, ardent et fier,
Luttons tous, tant que nous sommes,
Pour notre vieux pays noir. (Chorus)
Et s’il nous faut mourir, en somme
Qu’importe puisque nos enfants,
Partout, pourront dire comme
On triomphe en combattant,
Et dans le moindre village
Chantent sous nos trois couleurs. (Chorus)
The coat of arms of the Republic of Congo is set as follows: of a field of gold, cut by a wave of vert. In the center of the coat of arms is a lion carrying a torch (symbol of protection). The shield is supported by two elephants Sable, defended with gold, moving from the sides of the shield and supported by a tree trunk Gules. In the golden circle of the forest crown is written: "Republic of Congo" in gules letters on golden scroll. Motto: "Unity-Work-Progress" in letters Gules on a gold scroll.