The national flag of Angola came into use at independence on November 11, 1975. It is split horizontally into an upper red half and a lower black half. Like in some other African countries this flag is a modification of the ruling party's flag. The guerilla movement and later governing party, the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), used a similar design. The red is for the blood spilt by Angolans during their independence struggles, while the black is for the continent of Africa. The symbol in the middle is of a crossed cog wheel (workers) and machete (peasantry) with a gold star.