By Joseph Momoh, D.S. Reporter
The UN General Assembly has voted 164 to 1 to support more accurate world maps that show Africa’s true size, with the United States casting the sole vote against the resolution.
Sierra Leone and other African nations backed the measure sponsored by Togo and the African Union on Friday. Six countries abstained.
The resolution encourages the use of equal-area projections like the 2018 Equal Earth map, instead of the Mercator projection developed in 1569. The Mercator map inflates countries near the poles and shrinks those at the equator — making Africa look about the same size as Greenland, despite Africa being 14 times larger.
“A fair world begins with a fair map,” Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey said. “Maps shape our understanding of the world. They guide education, nourish the imagination, and influence collective perceptions.”
US representative Yaryna Ferencevych opposed the move, saying: “Resolutions like this and the ideological agenda they promote are barnacles on our work here, and the reason this institution is losing its credibility.”
The resolution is not legally binding and does not ban Mercator maps, which are still used for maritime and air navigation.
Togo said it will switch its school geography materials to the Equal Earth projection by the end of 2026 and is urging other governments and tech companies to do the same.
For more information contact Daily Scope Newspaper at dailyscopemedia@gmail.com
