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UN backs new world map designed to show Africa’s true size

From Al Jazeera · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Approved/passed
  • The UN General Assembly approved a nonbinding resolution promoting the Equal Earth projection, which more accurately represents the relative size of continents.
  • The resolution, sponsored by African Union states and the Bahamas, passed 164-1, with six abstentions; the United States cast the lone opposing vote.
  • Supporters say the Mercator projection has shaped distorted views of Africa, while the resolution leaves its use in maritime and aerial navigation unchanged.

“A fair world begins with a fair map,” Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey said before the vote. On Friday, the United Nations General Assembly backed a new map intended to correct what African states describe as a centuries-old visual injustice.

A fair world begins with a fair map.

· Robert DusseyTogo’s foreign minister spoke ahead of the UN vote.

The resolution, sponsored by African Union member states and the Bahamas, passed by 164 votes to one, with six abstentions. Togo led the campaign to reduce reliance on the widely used Mercator projection, which dates to the 16th century and expands land masses near the poles.

The distortion is especially stark in comparisons involving Africa. Greenland appears roughly the same size as Africa on a Mercator map, even though Africa is about 14 times larger. Critics argue that the projection also visually magnifies and centres Western countries, reinforcing ideas of European superiority and influencing how Africa is viewed in schools, media and policymaking.

in no way challenges the use of the Mercator projection for maritime and aerial navigation, for which it remains fully suited.

· Togolese foreign ministryThe ministry clarified the resolution’s effect on navigation maps.

The resolution promotes the Equal Earth projection, which presents continental sizes more accurately. It is not legally binding, and a statement from Togo’s foreign ministry said it “in no way challenges the use of the Mercator projection for maritime and aerial navigation, for which it remains fully suited.”

We want to see accurate maps in schools, textbooks, newsrooms, businesses and on the digital platforms billions of people use every day.

· Moky MakuraThe Africa No Filter executive director described the campaign’s next objective after the vote.

The United States, the only country to oppose the resolution, said it advanced an “ideological agenda” and diverted attention from genuine problems involving peace, prosperity and international relations. Moky Makura, executive director of Africa No Filter, welcomed the vote but said the campaign’s work would now move to implementation. “We want to see accurate maps in schools, textbooks, newsrooms, businesses and on the digital platforms billions of people use every day,” Makura said. France, which co-sponsored the resolution, said before the vote that it planned to abandon the Mercator projection in favour of maps suited to specific uses.

Africa doesn’t need to be made bigger. It needs to be seen accurately.

· Moky MakuraMakura argued that the campaign seeks accurate representation rather than symbolic enlargement.
About this summary

Originally published by Al Jazeera in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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