Rwanda 's previous flag was a red-yellow-green tricolour with a large black letter " R " ( to distinguish it from the otherwise identical Flag of Guinea ) . Derived from the flag of Ethiopia , the colours green , yellow , and red represented peace ; the nation 's hope for its development ; and the people . The colours were associated with Pan-African colours . The flag was changed because it became associated with the brutality of the 1994 genocide
1994 genocide
Rwandan genocide
Flag of Rwanda