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Gabon

République Gabonaise

Last modified: 2006-09-23 by phil nelson
Keywords: gabon | equator | tricolour | okoumé tree | ship | panthers |
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[Flag of Gabon] image by Željko Heimer

Proportions: 3:4 (approximate)
Usage code: [FIS Code]
ISO Code: GA GAB 266
FIPS 10-4 Code: GB
MARC Code: go
IOC Code: GAB

Location: Middle Africa

Neighboring Countries:

Gabon: Index of Pages:

See also:

Colours of the Flag

According to Devereux (1994) [dev94], the colours mean respectively the forest, the Equator line (which crosses the country) and the sea.
Antonio Martins, 30 May 1997

Concerning the colours - the green and yellow seems to be rather straightforward, but the blue is problematic, as usual. Pantone approximation given in Album 2000 [pay00] is 285c (CMYK 90,45,0,0). The colours used on two pages in the Album are quite different (certainly an effect of printing process), but it seems that a light grayish blue is appropriate. However, most of other sources that I quickly referred to show the blue rather dark - almost like navy blue.
Željko Heimer, 2 October 2001

Article One of Law No.54/60 dated 9 August 1960 which established the flag gives the colours as: 'light Irish green', 'golden yellow' and 'royal blue'
Christopher Southworth, 21 January 2003

The Constitution of the Republic of Gabon was adopted on 14 March 1991 (law 3/91, 26 March 1991) and amended on 22 April 1997.

Title 1

The Republic and Sovereignty

Article 2

(...)

The national emblem is the tricolor flag, green, yellow, blue in three horizontal bands of equal dimension.

(...)

The motto of the Republic is "Union - Work - Justice".

The seal of the Republic is a "Nursing Maternity".

Source: Constitutions - What they tell us about national flags and coats of arms [vap00]
Ivan Sache, 21 January 2003

National coat of arms

[National coat of arms of Gabon] located by Dov Gutterman, 14 March 1999

The shield is supported by two black panthers and an okoumé tree symbolizing the timber trade. The ship represents Gabon moving towards a brighter future. The coat of arms is unusual in having two ribbons with mottos in two different languages. The ribbon below the shield has the motto in French 'UNION, TRAVAIL, JUSTICE' ('Union, Work, Justice'). The second ribbon is placed beneath the branches of the okoumé tree and has the motto in Latin 'UNITI PROGREDIEMUR' ('Let us go forward united').
Source: Dorling-Kindersley Flag Pocket Book [rya97] (note this source incorrectly states the motto as UNITE PROGREDIAMUR - " We go forward united").

The coat of arms was designed by the Swiss heraldist and vexillologist Louis Mühlemann, one of the founding members of FIAV and also designer of the former coat of arms of Congo. The panthers symbolize the vigilance and courage of the president who protects the nation. The bezants (golden discs) in chief of the shield symbolize the mineral wealth of the country.

Source: Smith (1975) [sme75b]
Ivan Sache, 4 October 2001