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Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 31 January 2010- The African Union today unveiled its new flag at its 14th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government taking place in Addis Ababa. To tunes of the AU anthem, the new flag was hoisted by the outgoing Chairperson of the African Union, Brother Leader Muammar El Gaddafi, leader of the Libyan Revolution, Great Socialist People’s Libyan Jamahiriya.
It will be recalled that during the 8th African Union Summit which took place in Addis Ababa on 29 and 30 January 2007, the Heads of State and Government decided to launch a competition for the selection of a new flag for the Union. They prescribed a green background for the flag symbolising
hope of Africa and stars to represent Member States.
Pursuant to this decision, the African Union Commission (AUC) organized a competition for the selection of a new flag for the African Union. All African citizens were free to compete, including those in the Diaspora and the laureate would be awarded a prize in cash. The AUC received a total of 106 entries proposed by citizens of 19 African countries and 2 from the Diaspora. The proposals were then examined by a panel of experts put in place by the African Union Commission and selected from the five African regions for short listing according to the main directions given by the Heads of State and Government.
At the 13th Ordinary Session of the Assembly, the Heads of State and Government examined the report of the Panel and selected one among all the proposals. The flag is now part of the paraphernalia of the African Union and replaces the old one.