# flag of South Kasai

> flag used by the secessionist state of South Kasai (1960-1962)

**Wikidata**: [Q1144506](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1144506)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/flag-of-south-kasai

## Summary
The flag of South Kasai was the official emblem of the short-lived secessionist state of South Kasai, which existed from 1960 to 1962 during the Congo Crisis. It featured a horizontal bicolor design of red and green, charged with a yellow chevron, symbolizing the region's distinct identity and mineral wealth. The flag served as a political symbol of autonomy during a period of intense conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

## Key Facts
- **Active Period:** Used from 1960 to 1962 during the secession of South Kasai.
- **Design:** Horizontal bicolor flag with red (top) and green (bottom) fields, featuring a yellow chevron centered on the hoist side.
- **Colors:** Red, green, and yellow.
- **Class:** Subclass of "national flag" and "flag design."
- **Jurisdiction:** Represented the secessionist state of South Kasai.
- **Identifiers:** Flags of the World ID (`cd-skasa`), Google Knowledge Graph ID (`/g/1222td1k`).
- **Dissolution:** Abolished in 1962 following the reintegration of South Kasai into the Republic of the Congo.
- **Related Entities:** Connected to the broader concept of "national flag" and the historical context of the Congo Crisis.
- **Visual Depictions:** Includes a field (red and green) and a chevron (yellow), as documented in structured data.
- **Language Coverage:** Wikipedia articles in 3 languages (Lithuanian, Dutch, Polish).
- **Image Source:** Hosted on Wikimedia Commons (`Flag_of_South_Kasai.svg`).

## FAQs
**When was the flag of South Kasai in use?**  
The flag was officially used from 1960 to 1962, coinciding with the brief existence of the secessionist state of South Kasai during the Congo Crisis.

**What does the design of the flag symbolize?**  
The red and green horizontal fields and yellow chevron likely represented the region's rich mineral resources (e.g., diamonds) and its distinct political identity, though no explicit symbolism was formally documented.

**How does the flag relate to other Congolese flags?**  
Unlike the flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo or other secessionist states like Katanga, the South Kasai flag emphasized a unique combination of red, green, and yellow, reflecting its separate political aspirations.

**Why is the flag historically significant?**  
It symbolizes the fragmentation of the Congo following independence from Belgium in 1960 and the broader struggle for control over resource-rich regions during the early Cold War era.

## Why It Matters
The flag of South Kasai is a potent symbol of the political instability and fragmentation that characterized the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the early 1960s. As a visual marker of sovereignty for a short-lived state, it highlights the intersection of local identity, resource control (particularly diamonds), and Cold War-era geopolitical maneuvering. Its design and brief usage underscore the challenges of post-colonial state-building and the role of symbolism in asserting legitimacy during conflicts.

## Notable For
- **Short-Lived Symbolism:** One of the briefest national flags in African history, existing for only two years.
- **Distinct Design:** Unique among Congolese secessionist flags for its red-green bicolor and yellow chevron, differing from the vertical stripes of Katanga or the national Congolese flag.
- **Resource Representation:** Likely tied to South Kasai’s diamond wealth, a key factor in its secessionist ambitions.
- **Limited Recognition:** Never gained international recognition, reflecting the state’s isolation during the Congo Crisis.

## Body

### History and Context
The flag of South Kasai emerged in 1960 amid the turmoil of the Congo Crisis, a period marked by the secession of mineral-rich regions following the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s independence from Belgium. South Kasai declared autonomy under Prime Minister Albert Kalonji, who sought to leverage the region’s diamond resources. The flag was abolished in 1962 after South Kasai was reintegrated into the central government under Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba’s successor, Joseph Kasa-Vubu.

### Design Specifications
- **Color Scheme:** Red (top half), green (bottom half), and yellow (chevron).
- **Layout:** Horizontal bicolor with a yellow chevron (inverted "V") spanning the hoist side (left third of the flag).
- **Symbolism:** While never officially explained, the red and green may have represented the region’s fertile soil and lush landscapes, while the yellow chevron likely symbolized diamond mining, the backbone of the local economy.

### Technical and Cultural Legacy
- **Classification:** A subclass of "national flag" and "flag design," linked to the broader concept of national symbols.
- **Digital Presence:** Documented in global databases, including Flags of the World (`cd-skasa`) and Google Knowledge Graph (`/g/1222td1k`).
- **Visual Record:** A high-resolution image is preserved on Wikimedia Commons (`Flag_of_South_Kasai.svg`), ensuring its accessibility for historical and vexillological study.
- **Multilingual Coverage:** Featured in Wikipedia articles in three languages (Lithuanian, Dutch, Polish), reflecting niche but dedicated scholarly interest.

### Dissolution and Abolishment
The flag ceased to be an official symbol in 1962 after South Kasai’s reintegration into the Republic of the Congo. Its abolition marked the end of the region’s secessionist ambitions and the consolidation of central authority in Kinshasa. The flag’s short lifespan underscores the transient nature of political entities during the Congo Crisis, which saw multiple secessionist movements rise and fall within a span of years.

### Related Entities and Comparisons
- **Contrast with Katanga:** Unlike the secessionist state of Katanga, which adopted a vertical red-white-green tricolor, South Kasai’s flag emphasized horizontal fields and a central chevron, distinguishing its political identity.
- **National Flag Class:** As a subclass of "national flag," it shares structural properties with other sovereign symbols but is unique in its association with a non-recognized state.
- **Historical Artifacts:** The flag is preserved in collections like the "gallery of sovereign-state flags" and serves as a primary source for studying the iconography of African decolonization.