National Flag of the Republic of Cape Verde (1992)

Until independence on the 5th of July 1975 Cape Verde was a colony of Portugal from the late 15th century. 

Cape Verde originally adopted a flag containing the pan-African colours (red, yellow and green), very similar to the current flag of Guinea-Bissau.

This is not surprising considering the historical links the two countries share, not only as a short lived union, but also to the same nationalist political party that helped both countries achieve independence from colonial rule.

A single political party governed Cape Verde for 17 years after independence. 

The first multiparty elections were held in 1992 and with the election of the new Government came the creation and adoption of the current Cape Verde flag on September 25th 1992. 

The Symbolic Meaning

The main body of the Cape Verde flag is blue, it symbolises the Atlantic Ocean, which surrounds the West African archipelago nation. 

The ring of ten yellow five-pointed stars have a duel meaning; they represent the ten main islands of the country, as well as Cape Verde's unity. 

The horizontal stripes symbolise peace (white) and the striving of the people (red). Together they are said to represent the 'road to progress'.