'Cartographic colonialism!' - Togo leads push to ditch conventional world map and correct Africa's global representation

"Togo has launched a diplomatic push to phase out the centuries-old Mercator projection, arguing that the widely used world map distorts the true size of Africa and diminishes global perceptions of the continent. Backed by the African Union, the West African country is preparing a draft resolution for the United Nations General Assembly in September 2026, calling for the global adoption of maps that better reflect real land areas. "Here, we have the African continent, which appears to be practically the same size as Greenland. The Mercator projection tends to enlarge polar zones and shrink equatorial zones," said Adjoussi Pessiezoum of the University of Lome. In reality, Africa is around 14 times larger than Greenland and large enough to contain the United States, China, India, and much of Europe combined, yet it is often shown as far smaller on standard maps. The initiative, led by Foreign Minister Robert Dussey, proposes replacing the Mercator model, originally developed in 1569 for navigation, with equal-area alternatives such as the Equal Earth projection. "Technically, this is a feasible project. It is simply a matter of applying a new projection to preserve real surface areas," Pessiezoum said. Critics of the Mercator system argue it exaggerates regions closer to the poles while compressing those near the equator, a distortion some describe as 'cartographic colonialism'. "Through the representation of this map, people underestimate us. That needs to be said. International decisions are influenced by how this map is represented," said journalist Tchabore Bouraima. Supporters say the proposal could reshape how the world views geography and influence everything from education to policymaking. "If all 55 countries are in agreement, I believe they see that this initiative has potential. It will help calculate and correct something. This initiative will ensure that Africa is validly represented," Bouraima added. Togo is expected to formally submit the draft resolution for a UN vote in September, as part of broader efforts across Africa to reform global knowledge systems and challenge long-standing narratives."

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