Botswana

The flag of Botswana was adopted on 30 September 1966, the day the country became independent from Britain. According to the provided sources, the light blue symbolizes water, rain, and the sky, especially important in the arid Kalahari region, and connects with the national motto “Pula.” The central black stripe with white borders represents racial harmony and peaceful coexistence, and is also associated with the black-and-white coloring of the zebra, Botswana’s national animal. The design was created to contrast with apartheid-era South Africa and to avoid the pan-African red-yellow-green palette used by many newly independent African states.