| Order of the African Star Ordre de l'Étoile africaine Orde van de Afrikaanse Ster | |
|---|---|
 Knight's cross of the order of the African star. | |
Awarded by .svg){kind=small} Kingdom of Belgium | |
| Type | Order of Merit with five classes and three medals |
| Established | 1888 (Order of Congo Free State) 1908 (as Belgian Order) |
| Motto | TRAVAIL ET PROGRÈS - ARBEID EN VOORUITGANG |
| Awarded for | Meritorious acts, "promotion of African civilisation" |
| Status | Still living members, but no longer awarded since 1962 |
| Grand Master | His Majesty King Philippe |
| Grades | Grand Cross Grand Officer Commander Officer Knight |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Order of Leopold |
| Next (lower) | Royal Order of the Lion |
 | |
The Order of the African Star (Dutch: Orde van de Afrikaanse Ster; French: Ordre de l'Étoile africaine) was established by Leopold II of Belgium on 30 December 1888, in his capacity as ruler of the Congo Free State, and was awarded for services to Congo and for the "promotion of African civilisation in general". It was incorporated into the Belgian honours system on 10 October 1908 following the annexation of the Congo Free State by Belgium. The motto of the Order is "Travail et progrès" (French: Labour and progress; Dutch: Arbeid en vooruitgang). The King of the Belgians is its Grand Master; although the Congo is no longer a Belgian colony, it is still considered to be a Belgian Order by tradition.
The Order of the African Star is theoretically awarded by royal decree with approval by the Council of Ministers. Following the independence of Congo in 1960, the Order of the African Star is no longer awarded, although it officially still exists.