The African Union has entrusted Togo with a mission: to present next September at the UN a draft resolution to provide Africa with a fair representation on world maps used in classrooms around the world.
THE MERCATOR PROJECTION: A LEGACY FROM 1569
Created by Gerardus Mercator in 1569, the classic world projection was designed to facilitate maritime navigation. Its projection preserves the shapes and angles of the different continents, allowing sailors to plot straight-line routes across the oceans.
However, today no one uses maps to cross the oceans, and more importantly, the map is absolutely not faithful to the true scale of the continents.
A GLARING DISTORTION
The surface area of the European Union appears barely smaller than that of Africa on world maps. In reality, it is seven times smaller.
Another example: Greenland appears imposing when viewed on a map, but it is actually fourteen times smaller than the African continent.
MISSION ENTRUSTED TO TOGO • APRIL 7, 2026
On April 7, the African Union tasked Togo with presenting a draft resolution for a new map at the United Nations General Assembly in September.
This resolution is based on a new “Equal Earth” projection, which provides a representation of continental sizes closer to reality. The resolution will be submitted for a vote by Member States.
“A MATTER OF SCIENTIFIC RIGOR”
“This initiative is rooted in a logic of cognitive justice and scientific rigor, and not in a desire to establish a hierarchy between regions of the world.”
— Robert Dussey, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Togo, to Le Monde
IMPACT ON GLOBAL EDUCATION
“UN agencies responsible for education, development, and humanitarian affairs produce and distribute maps. A resolution at this level can directly influence the standards used on a large scale, in school textbooks, international reports, and digital tools.”
— Robert Dussey, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Togo
RFI INTERVIEW • APRIL 22, 2026
“First, from a scientific standpoint, this correction needs to happen. It brings something new, a new vision, a new narrative for young African learners.”
“On a political level, for a long time, for centuries, we were led to believe that Africa was somewhat trailing behind in universal History, whereas you and I know that Africa is at the heart of History, because Africa is the cradle of humanity.”
A NEW NARRATIVE FOR AFRICA
“We will see Africa better represented. We will see the narrative about Africa change: Africa’s positioning, exchanges, the important role that Africa continues to play today, and all the wealth that Africa possesses.”
“I believe this will enable its leaders, its daughters and sons, to engage responsibly with all partners working on the African continent.”