《CVRHK》［International news］U.N. Backs Africa’s Bid to “Correct the Map,” With U.S. Standing Alone
［6 September 2026］
U.N. Backs Africa’s Bid to “Correct the Map,” With U.S. Standing Alone
The United Nations General Assembly has approved a resolution urging countries and institutions to rethink how the world is depicted, endorsing an African‑led push to move beyond the centuries‑old Mercator projection. The measure passed with 164 votes in favor, one against and six abstentions, highlighting broad international support for revising global cartographic norms.
Togo introduced the resolution on behalf of the African Group, arguing that traditional maps—especially the Mercator projection—have long distorted perceptions by shrinking Africa and enlarging northern regions. Foreign Minister Robert Dussey told delegates that maps “shape our understanding of the world,” and called on African nations to reclaim how their continent is represented.The United States cast the lone vote against the initiative, dismissing it as a “radical ideological project.” Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine abstained.
The resolution does not ban Mercator or impose a single alternative. Instead, it encourages wider use of equal‑area projections such as the Equal Earth map, developed in 2018 to more accurately portray the relative size of continents. Supporters say adopting such maps in schools, international organizations and digital platforms would help correct long‑standing visual biases.
While nonbinding, the vote marks a symbolic victory for African diplomats who argue that cartography is not merely technical but political—shaping how the world sees itself and how Africa is seen within it.
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