**UN General Assembly Approves Resolution for Accurate Representation of Africa on World Maps**
The United Nations General Assembly has passed a significant nonbinding resolution aimed at promoting world maps that accurately depict Africa's true relative size. The resolution, known as “Correct the Map,” was sponsored by Togo on behalf of the African Group and received overwhelming support, passing with 164 votes in favor. The United States was the only country to vote against the resolution, while several nations, including Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia, and Ukraine, chose to abstain.
The initiative addresses long-standing criticisms of the Mercator projection, a 16th-century map design created by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator. This projection has been widely used for maritime navigation but has been criticized for distorting the sizes of landmasses, particularly those near the equator. As a result, Africa appears disproportionately small compared to other continents, such as Greenland, which is depicted as being comparable in size despite being approximately 14 times smaller than Africa.
The resolution encourages governments, educational institutions, publishers, international organizations, and digital platforms to adopt alternative map projections, such as the Equal Earth projection, which was introduced in 2018. This projection aims to preserve the relative land area of continents while still acknowledging that all flat representations of a spherical planet will involve some distortion of shapes, distances, or directions. Notably, France has expressed support for the resolution but indicated its preference for using the Eckert IV projection instead.
Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey emphasized the importance of correcting the map to restore an accurate understanding of Africa's dimensions. He stated, “A more faithful representation can help better cover Africa’s real wealth and potential, particularly in global economy and commercial dynamics.” This sentiment reflects broader concerns that the historical dominance of the Mercator projection has perpetuated a skewed perception of Africa's significance on the world stage.
The resolution follows the launch of the Correct the Map campaign by Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa in April 2025. The campaign has described the continued use of the Mercator projection as a form of "cartographic colonialism," arguing that the misrepresentation of Africa influences education, identity, and global perceptions of the continent. While these arguments highlight the social implications of map projections, they are not inherent features of the Mercator projection itself.
The U.S. delegation criticized the resolution, arguing that it undermines the work and purpose of the UN and promotes an “ideological agenda.” Meanwhile, Ukraine raised concerns about the Equal Earth website's depiction of Crimea as politically separate from Ukraine, reflecting the complexities and sensitivities surrounding territorial representations in mapping.
In contrast, the resolution received support from the African Union, with Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf urging various stakeholders to adopt maps that accurately reflect land areas. He stated, “Africa must be represented as it truly is: in its true dimensions and in its rightful place in the world.”
Russia also supported the resolution, highlighting the need to correct the misleading perceptions of Africa's size that have been entrenched by the widespread use of Mercator maps. Deputy Permanent Representative Maria Zabolotskaya noted that the resolution aims to address the “heavy historical legacy of colonialism,” which has historically diminished Africa's significance.
As the global community moves forward with this resolution, the implications for education, international relations, and perceptions of Africa's role in the world could be profound. The shift towards more accurate representations of the continent may foster a better understanding of Africa's vast resources, cultural diversity, and potential contributions to the global economy.