Togo Pushes UN to Ditch Distorted World Map Showing Africa Smaller than its Real Size

Togo is spearheading a diplomatic push to reshape how the world is visually represented, urging United Nations member states to abandon the 16th-century Mercator projection in favor of a map that more accurately reflects Africa’s true scale.

Togo Foreign Minister Robert Dussey said the current map is “geographically inaccurate,” noting that Africa is about 14 times larger than Greenland despite appearing similar in size on widely used projections. The initiative follows African Union (AU) backing across its 55 member states.

The Mercator projection, developed for navigation in the 16th century, enlarges regions near the poles while shrinking equatorial areas such as Africa and South America. Critics argue this distortion has shaped global narratives in education, media, and policy.

Moky Makura of Africa No Filter said: “Accurate representation is not just about maps - it is about agency, progress, and ensuring the world sees Africa as it truly is.” She previously argued, “When Africa is distorted on the map, Africa is diminished in the mind.”

Togo is preparing a draft resolution for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), with a vote expected in September. Dussey said the outcome would reveal countries’ “true colours,” signaling the political weight attached to what might appear a technical issue.

The proposal promotes the Equal Earth projection, introduced in 2018, as an alternative that better preserves relative landmass proportions.

Advocacy groups including Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa frame the campaign as part of a broader effort to correct historical narratives. The AU described the shift as affirming Africa’s “true size, significance, and rightful place in the world.”

Campaign messaging emphasizes that “this is more than a technical correction,” describing it as “cognitive justice” and “narrative sovereignty,” reflecting a wider push to reshape global perceptions.

Despite criticism, the Mercator projection remains widely used across schools, governments, and major technology platforms.

The debate follows broader diplomatic tensions at the UN, including a recent vote on reparations for slavery, where the United States, Israel, and Argentina opposed the measure while EU countries abstained, highlighting divisions that may also shape the upcoming map vote.