The African Union supports a campaign aimed at ending the use of the Mercator map by governments and international organizations, which dates back to the 16th century. The campaign seeks to promote an alternative map that accurately reflects the size of the African continent.
The projection created by cartographer Gerardus Mercator for navigation purposes distorts the sizes of continents, enlarging regions near the poles, such as North America and Greenland, while reducing the size of Africa and South America.
Salma Malika Hadadi, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, stated to Reuters, “It may seem like just a map, but it is not.” She explained that Mercator’s projection has perpetuated the misconception that Africa is “marginal,” despite it being the second-largest continent in the world, consisting of 54 countries and home to over one billion people.
She noted that such stereotypes impact media, education, and politics.
Criticism of the Mercator map is not new. However, the “Correct the Map” campaign, led by the groups “Africa No Filter” and “Speak Up Africa,” has revived the debate. This campaign encourages organizations to adopt the “Equal Earth” projection of 2018, which aims to present the true sizes of countries.
Hadadi stated that the African Union supports the initiative, aligning with its goal of “restoring Africa’s rightful place on the global stage.” This comes amid increasing calls for reparations for colonialism and slavery.
She added that the African Union will advocate for broader adoption of this map and discuss collective actions with member states.
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