[4] In its constitution, the government of the Comoros refers to the insignia as l'emblème national ('national emblem'), though it is understood to actually represent a flag.

The flag has four stripes, representing the four main islands of the nation: yellow for Mohéli, white for Mayotte (a French department claimed by the Comoros), red for Anjouan and blue for Grande Comore.

It had a white crescent at upper hoist facing the fly, four stars in a diagonal, and used a 5:7 proportion with a green background.

It returned to being completely green, with the crescent moving to the centre of the flag and the stars forming a line between its horns.

[10] From 1996 until 2001, variants of the Comorian national flag supplied mainly by Annin Flagmakers contained the names "Muhammad" and "Allah" written out in longform.