African Union Backs Global Campaign to Replace Distorted Mercator Map with Accurate Africa-Centred Projection

The African Union (AU) has formally endorsed a campaign urging governments and international organisations to phase out the use of the 16th-century Mercator projection in favour of maps that more accurately represent the true size of Africa.

Originally created by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator for maritime navigation, the Mercator map became a global standard despite its pronounced distortions. It significantly enlarges regions near the poles, such as North America and Greenland, while diminishing the scale of Africa and South America.

“It might seem to be just a map, but in reality, it is not,” AU Commission Deputy Chairperson Selma Malika Haddadi told Reuters, noting that the projection perpetuates the false notion that Africa is geographically and politically marginal. In truth, Africa is the world’s second-largest continent, home to 54 nations and over a billion people. She stressed that such distortions subtly influence global perceptions, shaping media narratives, education, and policymaking.

The criticism of the Mercator projection is longstanding. However, the Correct The Map campaign—led by advocacy organisations Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa—has reignited the movement for reform. The initiative promotes the Equal Earth projection, developed in 2018 to accurately reflect country sizes while preserving visual appeal.

“The current representation of Africa’s size is simply wrong,” said Moky Makura, Executive Director of Africa No Filter. “It’s the world’s longest-running misinformation campaign, and it has to stop.”

Fara Ndiaye, co-founder of Speak Up Africa, highlighted the psychological impact on young Africans who first encounter the Mercator map in school. “We’re working to integrate the Equal Earth projection into African classrooms as the primary standard. Our hope is that global institutions, especially those based in Africa, will follow suit.”

Haddadi confirmed that the AU’s support aligns with its broader goal of “reclaiming Africa’s rightful place on the global stage,” echoing rising calls for reparations for colonialism and slavery. The AU plans to advocate for the Equal Earth map’s adoption across member states and coordinate strategies for collective implementation.

Despite its flaws, the Mercator projection remains widespread, particularly in education and technology. While Google Maps adopted a 3D globe view on desktop in 2018, the Mercator remains the default on mobile. The campaign has urged institutions such as the World Bank and the United Nations to adopt Equal Earth universally. The World Bank stated it already uses Equal Earth or Winkel Tripel for static maps and is phasing out Mercator in digital products.

The AU’s position has also found international allies. Dorbrene O’Marde, Vice Chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Reparations Commission, endorsed the Equal Earth map, describing it as a rejection of the Mercator’s “ideology of power and dominance.”