The flag is based on that of the Afar/Issa independence war, which led the movement for self-determination by the clans toward independence. As for the colors of the current flag, blue represents the Somalian Issa clan, green, the Ethiopian Afar clan, the white triangle, peace and co-existence between the two clans, and the red star, blood shed for the independence war and sense of unity. The current flag was instituted in 1977, at the time of independence from France.