The African Union has backed a campaign urging governments and organizations to use a more accurate map that better represents Africa’s size. The 16th-century Mercator map distorts continent sizes, giving a false impression of Africa’s size. The Correct the Map campaign advocates for the adoption of the Equal Earth projection, aiming to reflect countries’ true sizes.
According to the African Union Commission deputy chair, Selma Malika Haddadi, the use of the Mercator map perpetuates stereotypes that Africa is ‘marginal,’ despite being the world’s second-largest continent. The campaign, led by Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa, seeks to promote the Equal Earth projection as the standard map in classrooms and global institutions.
Fara Ndiaye from Speak Up Africa emphasized how the Mercator map impacts African identity and pride, particularly affecting children. The African Union endorses the campaign as part of its efforts to reclaim Africa’s place on the global stage and advocate for reparations for colonialism and slavery.
The World Bank and the UN are encouraged to switch to the Equal Earth map, which offers a more accurate representation of countries’ sizes. Efforts to phase out the Mercator map in favor of more precise projections are gaining support from various regions, including the Caribbean Community Reparations Commission.