Order of the African Star

Classes

The Order of the African Star is administered by the FPS Foreign Affairs and has five classes and three medals:

1. Grand Cross, which wears the badge on a sash on the right shoulder, plus the star on the left chest;
2. Grand Officer, which wears the badge on a necklet and a smaller star on the left chest;
3. Commander, which wears the badge on a necklet;
4. Officer, which wears the badge on a ribbon with rosette on the left chest;
5. Knight, which wears the badge on a ribbon on the left chest;
6. Medals in Gold, Silver and Bronze on a ribbon on the left chest.

Notable recipients

;Grand Crosses

• Albert I of Belgium
• Albert II of Belgium
• Baudouin of Belgium
• Prince Charles, Count of Flanders
• Leopold II of Belgium
• Leopold III of Belgium
• Jan Smuts ;Grand Officers ;Commanders ;Officers ;Knights
• Paul Costermans ;Gold Medals ;Silver Medals
• Kristian Løken ;Bronze Medals ;Unknown Classes
• Armand Huyghé

Insignia

The Badge of the order is a white enamelled five-pointed star with blue borders, surrounded by a crown of green enamelled palm leaves. The central disk shows a gold star on blue enamelled background surrounded by a gold ring displaying the motto of the order: Travail et Progrès (work and progress). The reverse is similar to the obverse but with a central disc of red enamel with a stylised 'double L' crowned Leopold II monogram superimposed. The whole badge is topped by a royal crown linked to the ribbon.

The Plaque is a 10-pointed star, with (for Grand Cross) alternating faceted golden points and rayed silver points, or (for Grand Officer) made of plain silver with alternating faceted points and rayed points. The central disc shows the obverse of the badge, including the surrounding green enamelled palm leaves, and in the top the 'double L' Leopold II monogram. The whole plaque is topped by a royal crown.

The Medal is round in gold, silver and bronze versions, with a suspension in the form of a royal crown with two pendelia and a ribbon ring. The obverse shows a finely ribbed central area with bead surround, with a star superimposed. The surrounding circlet carries the motto of the order: Travail et Progrès (work and progress) - the later issues are bilingual including the Dutch Arbeid en Vooruitgang in the lower half of the circlet. The reverse is a stylised 'double L' crowned Leopold II monogram within a palm wreath.

The Ribbon of the order is azure blue with a large central pale yellow stripe. When awarded in war time, the ribbon of the Order may be adorned with a silver of gold palm.

The Ribbon bar of the order is worn on the semi-formal dress uniform.

Award conditions

The Order of the African Star was awarded for especially meritorious service of any field performed in the Belgian Congo and, "promotion of African civilisation in general". Its award was rare, and though on behalf of the King, it required the approval of the Council of Ministers.

References

• Royal Decree of 26 March 1953 Creating Palms for the Order of the African Star and the Royal Order of the Lion when Awarded in War Time (Moniteur Belge of 14 April 1953)
• Borné A.C., Distinctions honorifiques de la Belgique, 1830-1985 (Bruxelles: 1985)
• Van Hoorebeke P., 175 Ans de l'Ordre de Léopold et les Ordres Nationaux Belges (MRA: 2007)