Countries with AK-47 on Their Flag 2025

Mozambique’s Quest for Peace

Mozambique’s quest for peace comes with a note of war, as it is the only country with an AK-47 on its flag. The current Mozambique flag dates back to 1983 and bears an emblem in which an AK-47 crosses with a hoe, with an open book in the background.

As with most flags, every element and color has a symbolic meaning. According to the country’s constitution, the hoe represents production, the rifle represents defense, and the book behind them represents education, and the star upon which they all rest stands for “the spirit of international solidarity of the Mozambican people”. Additionally, the green and yellow in Mozambique’s flag symbolize the country’s soil, the black symbolizes Africa, the red symbolizes “anti-colonial resistance” and defense of the nation, and the white represents justice and the people’s struggle to obtain it.

The hoe and rifle are also found on Mozambique’s coat of arms. Zimbabwe and Timor-Leste also utilize the symbol of the hoe and rifle on their coats of arms, but not on their flags.

Timor-Leste’s Bow and Spear

The flag for Timor-Leste (also called East Timor) was adopted in 2002 and changed when Timor-Leste gained sovereignty. Its yellow is symbolic for independence and its red for the blood of the country’s people. White in the flag symbolizes the light and hope for what lies ahead for East Timor.

Timor-Leste’s national emblem features AK-47 and a spear, both symbols of independence. The country struggled during a 30-year war trying to gain independence from Indonesia, and this struggle (and the victorious result) are commemorated on its coat of arms.

Zimbabwe’s 15-Year War

Zimbabwe’s coat of arms includes a more subtle reference to the rifle-and-hoe symbol, with the implements largely hidden behind a shield. For Zimbabwe, the struggle was 15 years long and the rifle was an important component of the struggle.

Zimbabwe’s flag utilizes the colors green, red, black, and gold. The flag also features a bird, and a star with five points. The bird is a symbol of a statue found at the Great Zimbabwe ruins, a sign of the history of the country. The star is about hope and promise and mostly hope about the future. However, it does have socialist roots but a socialist theme that aspires to move towards peace. The wreath on the flag of Zimbabwe represents the mining industry of the country which is a mainstay in the Zimbabwe economy. Also on the flag is an Earth mound, which symbolizes food and shelter, a symbol that Zimbabwe takes care of its people.