In a move aimed at reshaping the global perception of Africa, the African Union has called for the abandonment of the historical Mercator map—dating back to the 16th century—in favor of the “Equal Earth” projection, which presents continents more accurately in terms of size.
Salma Malika Haddadi, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, told Reuters: “This is not just about a map; it’s about a mental image that has been ingrained for decades.” She pointed out that the Mercator projection greatly inflates the size of regions near the poles, such as North America and Greenland, while shrinking Africa’s size—reinforcing a false perception of the continent as marginal, despite it being the second-largest continent and home to over one billion people.
"Correct the Map" Campaign
The AU`s call comes as part of the “Correct the Map” campaign, led by the organizations Africa No Filter and Speak for Africa, which advocate for the adoption of the Equal Earth projection, introduced in 2018. This map shows the true scale of countries and continents in a more equitable way.
Moky Makura, Executive Director of Africa No Filter, described the Mercator map as “the longest-running disinformation campaign in history.” Meanwhile, Farah N’Diaye, co-founder of Speak for Africa, noted that the outdated projection negatively impacts the identity of African children who grow up viewing it, weakening their sense of pride and belonging.
Toward Curriculum Reform
The organizations involved in the campaign are pushing for the Equal Earth map to be incorporated into school curricula across the continent, with hopes that international institutions—particularly those based in Africa—will also adopt it.
Haddadi emphasized that the African Union fully supports the initiative, seeing it as aligned with the AU’s broader mission of “restoring Africa’s rightful place on the global stage,” particularly amid growing calls for reparations for colonialism and slavery.
A Gradual Shift in Global Institutions
Although the Mercator map is still widely used, some institutions have started shifting toward more accurate alternatives.
Google, for instance, adopted a 3D globe view on the desktop version of Google Maps in 2018, though the mobile version still uses the Mercator projection.
The campaign also seeks to persuade institutions like the World Bank and the United Nations to adopt the Equal Earth projection.
A World Bank spokesperson stated that the organization already uses the “Winkel Tripel” or “Equal Earth” projection in its static maps and is gradually phasing out Mercator from its digital mapping tools.
Similarly, the Caribbean Reparations Commission, part of the CARICOM group, has voiced support for the initiative, viewing the adoption of the new map as a rejection of the ideology of dominance embodied by the Mercator projection.