Togo Seeks UN Resolution to Replace Distorted World Map with Accurate Depiction of Africa

The government of Togo has announced plans to challenge long-standing global cartographic standards, urging United Nations member states to abandon the centuries-old Mercator world map in favour of a projection that accurately reflects the true size of Africa.

According to Reuters, Togo’s Foreign Minister, Robert Dussey, disclosed that the West African nation, backed by the African Union, will formally push for a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) calling for the adoption of a more scientifically accurate world map.

At the heart of the campaign is a growing rejection of the Mercator projection, a 16th-century map designed by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator for maritime navigation. Critics argue that the projection grossly distorts the sizes of continents, most notably making Greenland appear nearly as large as Africa, when in reality, Africa is about 14 times bigger.

Experts and advocacy groups say the continued global reliance on the Mercator map perpetuates misleading narratives about Africa’s global significance, reinforcing perceptions of marginality despite the continent’s vast landmass, resources, and population.

“The size we see of the African continent on the globe… is geographically inaccurate,” Dussey told Reuters in an interview, stressing the need for what he described as “scientific truth.”

The initiative, branded as the “Correct The Map” campaign, is being championed by advocacy organisations such as Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa. The campaign calls for the widespread adoption of the Equal Earth projection, a modern mapping system developed in 2018 that more accurately represents the relative sizes of continents.

According to campaigners, the issue goes beyond geography and into the realm of global power dynamics. “Accurate representation is not just about maps – it is about agency, progress, and ensuring the world sees Africa as it truly is,” said Moky Makura.

Earlier this year, the African Union adopted a resolution encouraging its 55 member states to transition away from the Mercator projection and embrace the Equal Earth model, signaling a unified continental stance aimed at reshaping how Africa is visually represented across education, media, and policymaking.

Dussey revealed that a draft resolution is currently being prepared and is expected to be presented for a vote at the next UN General Assembly session in September. He noted that how countries vote on the matter would expose their true colours regarding Africa’s global standing.

“The institutional challenge is to have a resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly to validate this map. It goes without saying that African countries are already receptive to this initiative,” Dussey added.

The development comes on the heels of another Africa-led diplomatic push at the United Nations. Just last month, the UN adopted a landmark resolution recognising slavery as the “gravest crime against humanity” and calling for reparations.

However, the vote exposed deep global divisions, with several Western nations abstaining while the United States, Israel, and Argentina voted against it.