The flag of South Sudan was adopted following the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended the Second Sudanese Civil War. A similar version of the flag was previously used as the flag of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement. The flag of South Sudan is older than the country, as the flag was adopted in 2005, while the country became independent in 2011.
History
When Sudan became independent in 1956, the predominantly Christian people living in the south of the country had no regional symbols, while the already dominant Muslim north displayed Islamic symbols on the national flag. Before independence, the British government had arranged for appropriate local symbols for the regions in Sudan, but the new government in independent Sudan had opposed the use of these symbols as being counterproductive to fostering national unity.
From the outset, the southern Sudanese felt discriminated against by the Islamic north. The southerners fought the Second Sudanese Civil War to gain their independence, followed by a peace agreement in 2005 that included a referendum on independence in the south. The referendum passed with overwhelming support in 2011, and South Sudan became officially independent on 9 July. In the 1990s, during their struggle with the north, the southern Sudanese had created a banner of independence, which would become the new national flag. The flag was designed by Samuel Ajak, who was an artist and brigadier general for the Sudan People's Liberation Army under revolutionary leader John Garang.
Description
The flag bears similarities with the flags of Sudan and Kenya. It shares the black, white, red, and green of the Sudanese flag (although the colours' symbolism are different), in addition to having a chevron along the hoist. The horizontal black, white, red, and green bands of the flag share the same design as the Kenyan flag, and the Pan-African symbolism thereof. Another difference between the flags of Sudan and South Sudan is that there is a yellow star inside the blue triangle (like the flag of the Belgian Congo), representing the unity of South Sudan.
Colour scheme
Symbolism and representation
The South Sudanese government specifies that the colours of the flag are there to represent these descriptions of South Sudan: Black: Represents the people of South Sudan. Red: Represents blood that was shed for the independence of the country. Green: Represents the country's agricultural, natural wealth, land, as well as progress. White: Represents peace. Blue: Represents waters of the Nile River, a source of life. Yellow: Represents unity (of the states), hope, and determination for all people.
Unofficial variant
The flag of South Sudan with a deep-blue coloured triangle is often used. In 2023, the country's Media Authority released an advisory discouraging the use of such flag variant. It is illegal in South Sudan to distribute an incorrect reproduction of the flag.
Historical flags
South Sudan as part of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
South Sudan as part of the Republic of Sudan
Other flags
Government flags
Military flags
Political party flags
Including militant organizations barred from participation in electoral politics.
Miscellaneous flags
Sub-national flags
South Sudan has ten states, two administrative areas and one area with special administrative status. The ten states have adopted state flags.
States
Administrative areas
Regions
See also
List of South Sudanese flags
Coat of arms of South Sudan
South Sudan Oyee! Flag of Sudan