“A simple map, with a deep and lasting flaw”. That is how Selma Malika Haddadi, deputy chair of the African Union Commission, describes the world. She wants that to change.
For centuries, the world has relied on the Mercator projection. It was designed for sailors in the 16th century. But today, it still misleads. It makes equatorial lands, like Africa, seem smaller. It inflates regions near the poles. Greenland looks nearly as large as Africa though in truth, Africa is nearly 14 times bigger.
Haddadi says the distortions are not harmless. “It might seem to be just a map, but in reality, it is not,” she told Reuters. She warned that the Mercator map makes Africa appear marginal. It shapes how media, schools and even policymakers see the world.
The African Union is now backing the “Correct The Map” campaign, led by Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa. The push is simple: replace the obsolete Mercator with a fairer option the Equal Earth projection.
Moky Makura, Executive Director of Africa No Filter, puts it bluntly. “The current size of the map of Africa is wrong. It’s the world’s longest misinformation and disinformation campaign and it just simply has to stop.”
Fara Ndiaye of Speak Up Africa added how important it is for young minds. She said the Mercator projection “affects Africans’ identity and pride, especially children who might encounter it early in school.” Her group is working to make Equal Earth the norm in classrooms across Africa.
The campaign does not stop there. The AU is urging global institutions including the UN and the World Bank to adopt the new projection. Some progress is already underway. The World Bank now uses Equal Earth or Winkel-Tripel for static maps. And Google Maps shows a globe view on desktop; though the traditional view still lingers on mobile.
CARICOM, the Caribbean regional bloc, has voiced support too. Its vice-chair called shift to Equal Earth “a rejection of the ideology of power and dominance embedded in the Mercator map.”
This is more than about geography. It is about how a distorted view of the earth can shape our sense of worth and place. The AU says the effort fits with its wider goal of reclaiming Africa’s rightful role on the global stage.
About the Author
