Togo to Urge UN Members to Use Map Reflecting True Size of Africa

 Togolese authorities intend to urge UN member states to abandon the 16th-century Mercator projection world map and switch to a cartographic projection that reflects the true size of Africa, the country's Foreign Minister Robert Dussey told Reuters.

"The size of the African continent as we see it on the globe is geographically inaccurate," Dussey stated.

Shortcomings of the Mercator Projection

The African Union, which in August backed a campaign to stop the use of the Mercator map by governments and international organizations, tasked Togo with promoting the initiative. It proposes using the Equal Earth projection, developed in 2018, which more accurately reflects the true size of countries.

According to Dussey, a draft resolution of the UN General Assembly is currently being prepared, with a vote possibly taking place in September.

"The institutional objective is to secure the adoption of a UN General Assembly resolution that will confirm the use of this map," the minister stated.

He noted that how UN member states vote on the resolution will reveal their "true nature."