OF THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC EPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA 2 Year No . 4 ADDIS ABABA - 6th February , 1996 CONTENTS Proclamation No . 16 / 1996 Flag and Emblem Proclamation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 94 PROCLAMATION NO . 16 / 1996 A PROCLAMATION ON THE FLAG AND EMBLEM OF THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA WHEREAS , sub - Articles ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) of Article 3 of the Constitution stipulate on the Flag and Emblem of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia ; WHEREAS , in consequence thereof , it is found neces sary to promulgate a law providing for particulars on the Flag and the Emblem ; NOW , THEREFORE , in accordance with Article 55 ( 1 ) of the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia , it is hereby proclaimed as follows : PART ONE General 1 . Short Title This Proclamation may be cited as the " Flag and Emblem Proclamation No 16 / 1996 . ” PART TWO The Flag and the National Emblem Symbolism of the Flag The Flag of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia ( hereinafter the Flag ” ) symbolizes the sovereignty of the Republic and the unity of its peoples founded upon their common will . Unit Price $ 2 . 15 www . AfricanLawArchive . com * * * The African Law Archive * * * WWW . AfricanLawArchive . com 3 . Colours and Shape of the Flag | - 1 ) The Flag shall have the colours : green at the top , yellow at the middle and red at the bottom . 2 ) The colours shall be bright and basic . 3 ) The colours shall be structured horizontally and be of the same size . The length of the Flag shall be twice its width . 4 ) The Emblem shall be a blue circle with depictions : ( a ) straight and equal lines of yellow that come from all directions and join each other , ( b ) a star formed by the straight and equal lines ; ( c ) yellow rays radiating from the joints of the straight and equal lines . 14 . Meaning of the Colours of the Flag The colours of the Flag shall represent the following meanings : 1 ) the green for labour , fertility and development ; 3 ) the red for sacrifice and heroism towards the prev alence of freedom and equality . = 4 ) the circular blue background of the Emblem signifies peace . 5 . Meaning of the Emblem 1 ) the Straight and Equal Lines : signify the equality of Nations , Nationalities and Peoples as well as of Religions . 2 ) the Star formed by the Straight and Equal Lines : signifies the unity founded by the Nations , Nationalities and Peoples of Ethiopia of their common will . 3 ) the Yellow Rays : signify the bright prospect in sight for the Nations , Nationalities and Peoples united of their common 6 . Pictorial Representation of the Flag The pictorial representation of the Flag is as follows : www . AfricanLawArchive . com * * * The African Law Archive * * * www . AfricanLawArchive . com 7 . Display of the Flag Except in cases of force majeure obstructive to having it flown : 1 ) The Flag shall fly daily at the offices of the house of Peoples ' Representatives , of the Council of Ministers , of regional organs of power at every level , of ministries , of other executive organs , of courts , of schools , of military establishments , of police and border - guard establishments and at the embassies and residential buildings of Ambassadors of the Republic ; 2 ) Merchant ships and boats of the Republic shall fly the Flag daily ; 3 ) Government offices not specified in sub - Article ( 1 ) of this Article , shall fly the Flag on public holidays ; 4 ) The Flag shall fly at the following places : ( a ) at the square within the premises of the House of the Federation ; ( b ) at the respective offices and residential buildings of the Head of State and of the Head of Government of the Republic ; ( c ) on the vehicle , plane or vessel in which the Head of State , the Head of Government or the Ambas sador of the Republic is travelling . Without prejudice to article 3 ( 3 ) of this Proclamation , the Flag shall have the following sizes : 1 ) at major squares , the size of the Flag shall be 210 by 420 cms . and the flagstaff shall be from 15 to 18 metres high ; 2 ) at medium squares , the size of the Flag shall be 150 by 300 cms . and the flagstaff shall be from 10 to 15 metres high ; 3 ) at the squares of offices , higher education institutions and organizations , the size of the Flag shall be 135 by 270 cms , and the flagstaff shall be from 10 to 12 metres high ; on major government buildings , the size of the Flag shall be 135 by 270 cms . and the flagstaff shall be 5 metres high ; 5 ) at organizations and business enterprises in the ground floors of major buildings , the size of the Falg shall be 105 by 210 cms . and the flagstaff shall be 3 metres high ; on major ships and when displayed by a guard of honour in procession , the size of the flag shall be 105 by 210 cms . and the flagstaff shall be 230 cms . high ; 7 ) in honour of foreign guests and on public holidays , the size of the Flag flown in the streets shall be 90 by 180 cms . and the flagstaff shall be 2 metres high ; on medium size ships , the size of the Flag shall be 90 by 180 cms . and the flagstaff shall be 2 metres high ; 9 ) on the desks of the offices of the Head of State , the Head of Government and ambassadors , the size of the Flag shall be 21 by 42 cms . and the flagstaff shall be 50 cms . high ; 10 ) on vehicles in which the Head of State , the Head of Government and ambassadors travel , the width and length shall be in the ratio of 3 : 4 and shall be 30 by 40cms . www . AfricanLawArchive . com * * * The African Law Archive * * * www . AfricanLawArchive . com 9 . Place for Setting up the Flagstaff The Flagstaff of the Flag flown at a square shall , as far as possible , be set up at the centre in front of the office building . 10 . Tip of the Flagstaff The tip of any flagstaff shall be spear - shaped . | 11 . Time of Hoisting and Lowering the Flag 1 ) Without prejudice to sub - Articles ( 2 ) and ( 3 ) of this Article , the Flag shall be hoisted at 6 a . m . and lowered at 6 p . m . at offices specified in Article 7 ( 1 ) of this Proclamation and on ships and boats . However , military units in regions where a state of emergency has been declared need not comply with the regular hoisting and lowering time until the situation changes . 2 ) In schools , the Flag shall be hoisted in the morning before classes begin and lowered after the day ' s classes end ; hoisting and lowering shall take place at a procession ceremony of students . 3 ) The Flag shall be hoisted on the eve and lowered on the morrow of public holidays . 12 . The Flag of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia shall only be of the tricolours of Green , Yellow and Red , as provided hereinabove , together with the Emblem at the centre , as specified in this Proclamation . 13 . Any Ethiopian national shall have the responsibility and | duty to pay due honour to the Flag of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia . PART THREE Miscellaneous | 14 . Power to Issue Regulations The Council of Ministers may issue regulations neces sary for the implementation of this Proclamation . Power to Issue Directives The following may issue directives of implementation pursuant to regulations made in accordance with Article 14 of this Proclamation : 1 ) the Ministry of National Defence with respect to military units ; 2 ) the Ministry of transport and Communications with respect to merchant ships and boats ; 3 ) the Ministry of foreign Affairs with respect to the embassies and consulates of the Federal De mocratic Republic of Ethiopia . www . AfricanLawArchive . com * * * The African Law Archive * * * www . AfricanLawArchive . com 16 . Repeals The following laws are hereby repealed : 1 ) the Flag Proclamation No . 3 / 1987 ; and 2 ) the Emblem of the Republic Proclamation No . 4 / | 17 . Effective Date This Proclamation shall enter into force as of the 6th day of February , 1996 . Done at Addis Ababa , this 6th day of February , 1996 . PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA www . AfricanLawArchive . com * * * The African Law Archive * * * www . 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