UN backs African-led campaign to correct how the continent is represented on world maps. NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — Africa has not physically become larger, but the way the world sees the continent on conventional world maps is now facing a major correction. The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly backed an African-led resolution encouraging the adoption of map projections that represent the relative size of continents more accurately, particularly Africa.
The resolution, adopted on 4 September 2026, was spearheaded by Togo on behalf of the African Group and supported by the African Union. It received 164 votes in favour, one vote against and six abstentions. The United States was the only country to vote against the resolution, while Serbia, Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova and Ukraine abstained. The development follows an international campaign to move away from the centuries-old Mercator projection, which has been widely used in classrooms, atlases and other forms of geographic representation. The Mercator projection was developed by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator in 1569, principally to assist maritime navigation. While useful for navigation, it does not preserve the actual relative areas of continents and countries.
THE EQUAL EARTH ALTERNATIVE
The African-led campaign has promoted the Equal Earth projection, an equal-area world map introduced in 2018. Unlike Mercator, Equal Earth is designed to preserve the relative areas of continents and countries, meaning that Africa and other regions closer to the equator are represented much closer to their actual proportions.
The important distinction is that Equal Earth does not make Africa physically bigger. Rather, it changes the mathematical projection used to display Earth’s three-dimensional surface on a two-dimensional map.
No flat map can represent the globe perfectly without some form of distortion. Different projections preserve different properties, including area, shape, distance or direction. Equal Earth prioritises area accuracy, making it particularly relevant to the campaign for a more proportionate visual representation of Africa.
TOGO LEADS THE AFRICAN PUSH
Togo has emerged as the leading government behind the international campaign. Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey has argued that the issue is not simply about cartography but also about how geographical representations influence people’s understanding of the world. Togo’s government plans to begin changing geography materials in its schools before the end of 2026, according to Dussey. The country also intends to engage African Union member states and other international partners to encourage wider adoption of more accurate projections.
The African Union endorsed the broader Correct the Map campaign in 2025, with Togo subsequently taking the issue to the United Nations on behalf of the African Group
WHAT THE UN DECISION ACTUALLY MEANS
The UN decision does not legally ban the Mercator projection. The resolution is not legally binding, meaning governments, schools, companies and other institutions are not legally compelled to abandon Mercator maps.
Instead, it encourages governments, educational institutions, international organisations and technology platforms to consider projections that provide a more proportionate representation of the world’s regions.
The resolution also does not invalidate the usefulness of Mercator for navigation. Its ability to represent lines of constant bearing makes it historically valuable for maritime navigation, and the Togolese government has specifically acknowledged that the projection remains suitable for maritime and aerial navigation.
WHAT CHANGES FOR AFRICAN STUDENTS?
For African students, one of the most immediate potential consequences could be the appearance of more geographically accurate world maps in schools, textbooks, classrooms, media and digital platforms.
Togo has already announced plans to change its school geography materials before the end of the year. The wider UN resolution could encourage other countries and institutions to review the projections used in educational materials.
The debate also presents an important research opportunity for African scholars in geography, cartography, education, history, international relations, communication and development studies. It raises questions about how visual representations influence geographical knowledge, cultural perceptions and understandings of global power.
Key sources: United Nations General Assembly resolution and reporting; Reuters; Associated Press; Al Jazeera; The Guardian; French newspaper Le Monde; Correct the Map campaign.
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