Flag of Lesotho

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The current national flag of Lesotho, adopted on October 4, 2006, features a horizontal blue, white, and green tricolour with a black mokorotlo (a Basotho hat) in the centre. The design, introduced to honour the 40th anniversary of independence, is reportedly intended to reflect a peaceful orientation for the country.^[1][2]

Contents 1 Former flags 1.1 Gallery 2 References 3 External link

[edit] Former flags

The first flag of Lesotho was introduced on October 4, 1966, the day of Lesotho's full independence from the United Kingdom. It featured a prominent white mokorotlo. The blue stood for sky and rain, the white for peace, the green for land, and the red for faith.

A new design was adopted on January 20, 1987, following a military coup which ousted the Basotho National Party after 20 years in power. A light brown traditional Basotho shield along with an assegai (lance) and knobkierie (club) replaced the Basotho hat as the primary emblem. The colour scheme and pattern changed as well, with a triangular white field standing for peace. The bottom diagonal contained a blue strip for rain and a green triangle for prosperity.

Although the military government turned over power to a democratic government in 1993, the flag was controversial because of its association with the junta and there were increasing demands to change it.

[edit] Gallery

Flag from 1966–1987

Flag from 1987–2006

[edit] References

[edit] External link

• Lesotho at Flags of the World

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Flags of formerly independent states