Flag of Angola as of 1975. Flag Ratio: 2:3

This flag was proposed in 2003 but has not yet been ratified.

The national flag of Angola is split horizontally into an upper red half and a lower black half. The red is for the blood spilt by Angolans during their independence struggles, while the black is for the continent of Africa. The symbol in the middle is of a crossed cog wheel and machete with a star, that are supposed to represent the workers. It is also supposed to be similar to the hammer and sickle found on the flag of the former Soviet Union and a symbol of Communism.

In 2003 a new flag was proposed, although it has yet to be ratified or formally adopted. The sun design in the middle is meant to be reminiscent of cave paintings found in Tchitundo-Hulu cave. The flag, while radically different in design and symbolism, maintains the same flag proportions of 2:3. Many Angolans dislike the flag proposal because they feel it has no real meaning, as opposed to the current flag which clearly has historical associations.

References

• http://www.angola.org/referenc/proposed_flag.html