National Flag of the Democratic Republic of Madagascar (1958)

Madagascar, an island nation off the south-eastern coast of Africa, adopted its current flag on the 21st of October 1958; it coincided with the former French colony becoming an autonomous member of the French Community as the Malagasy Republic.

Full independence was achieved 2 years later, on the 26th of June 1960. 

In 1975, a new constitution was approved and a new name adopted, the Democratic Republic of Madagascar. 

Throughout these changes the flag remained unaltered.

The Symbolic Meaning

Historically red and white were used in the flags of the Merina Kingdom, a people of Indonesian decent from central Madagascar, who ruled much of the island from the late 18th century until the commencement of French colonisation at the end of the 19th century.

Green was added to the red and white to symbolise the Hova people, the mostly peasant class of Madagascar.

Contemporary interpretation of the colours have red symbolising sovereignty, white representing purity and green connoting hope.