thumb|People with an Equatorial Guinea flag
thumb|A football fan holding an Equatorial Guinea flag
The flag of Equatorial Guinea (; ; ) was adopted on August 21, 1979.
History
The flag was first flown the day of independence, October 12, 1968, and it showed the national emblem in the center. However, in 1973, during the regime of Francisco Nguema, a different national emblem was used on the flag. Under Nguema's rule, the coat of arms consisted of several tools, a sword and a cockerel. The modified national motto Trabajo (work), and Unidad, Paz, Justicia (Unity, Peace, Justice) was written in two stripes. The original coat of arms was restored after Nguema was deposed on 21 August 1979. It is considered that under a silk-cotton tree a treaty was signed between Spain and a local ruler that marked the beginning of the colonial rule.
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File:Flag of Spain (1785–1873, 1875–1931).svg|Flag used during Spanish colonisation (1785–1931)
File:Flag of Equatorial Guinea (without coat of arms).svg| First flag (1968–1969)
File:Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg|1969–1973, same as modern flag
File:Flag of Equatorial Guinea 1973-1979.svg| Second flag during the rule of Francisco Nguema (1973–79)
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