The flag of Somalia is a simple design consisting of a light blue background with a white five-pointed star in the center. The blue color represents the sky and the sea, which are important elements of the country’s geography and economy. The white star symbolizes the five regions inhabited by Somali people: Somalia, Somaliland, Djibouti, Ogaden, and the North Eastern Province of Kenya.
The flag was adopted on October 12, 1954, when Somalia was still a colony of Italy. It was designed by Mohammed Awale Liban, a Somali scholar and poet who was living in Rome at the time. The flag was later used by the Somali Republic, which gained independence from Italy in 1960.
The flag has undergone some changes over the years. In 1975, a variant of the flag was introduced with a different shade of blue and a slightly different design for the star. This version was used until 1991, when the Somali Civil War broke out and the country descended into chaos. During this time, various factions used different flags, and the official flag was not used until the formation of the Transitional National Government in 2000.
Today, the flag of Somalia is a symbol of the country’s unity and independence. It is flown at government buildings, schools, and other public places. The flag is also used by the Somali diaspora around the world as a symbol of their identity and heritage.