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As part of the Rwandan Government’s attempt to promote reconciliation and unity following the
genocide (massacres) of 1994, the national constitution was amended in October 2001, to include the creation and adoption of a new national flag.
The previous national flag adopted in 1961, just prior to independence from Belgium, was an equally divided vertical striped tricolour of red-yellow-green, inspired by the pan-African colours and patterned on the Belgium flag, charged with a black R on the centre yellow stripe, standing for Rwanda, Revolution and Republic.
This national flag was replaced because it was considered to be too closely associated with the ethnically motivated violence of 1994.
The current national flag was designed by Rwandan artist Alphonse Kirimbenecyo and was adopted on the 31st of December 2001. |
