Flags of disputed territories
Breakaway states and contested regions that fly their own flags, whether or not the rest of the world recognises them.
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A flag is one of the first things a breakaway government makes, and it often outlasts any hope of recognition. The places here range from Somaliland, which has run itself since 1991 with almost no recognition, to Bougainville, which voted for independence and is negotiating it with Papua New Guinea.
Breakaway states
Somaliland
Green, white and red with a black star. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991.
Northern Cyprus
Turkey’s crescent and star in red on white. Only Turkey recognises Northern Cyprus.
Abkhazia
An open hand under seven stars. Recognised by Russia and a handful of others.
South Ossetia
White, red and yellow, the same flag as North Ossetia across the Russian border.
Transnistria
Red and green, still carrying the Soviet hammer and sickle.
Western Sahara
The flag of the Sahrawi Republic. Morocco controls most of the territory.
Contested regions
Azad Kashmir
Azad Kashmir, the part of Kashmir that Pakistan administers.
Jammu and Kashmir
A plough on red. It lost official status in 2019 when India revoked the state’s autonomy.
Bougainville
An upe headdress on a kapkap disc. Bougainville voted 98% for independence in 2019.
On the globe
Somalia
Morocco
Cyprus
Georgia
Moldova
Pakistan
India
Papua New GuineaMore flags
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