https://en.sputniknews.africa/20260911/africa-has-one-voice-nowhow-togo-led-a-historic-un-victory-to-remap-the-continent-1089044447.html
"Africa Has One Voice Now"—How Togo Led a Historic UN Victory to Remap the Continent
"Africa Has One Voice Now"—How Togo Led a Historic UN Victory to Remap the Continent
Sputnik Africa
The United Nations General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to promote a new world map that more accurately reflects the size of Africa and other continents... 11.09.2026, Sputnik Africa
2026-09-11T17:14+0200
2026-09-11T17:14+0200
2026-09-11T17:14+0200
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"Africa Has One Voice Now"—How Togo Led a Historic UN Victory to Remap the Continent
Sputnik Africa
The United Nations General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to promote a new world map that more accurately reflects the size of Africa and other continents, replacing the distorted proportions of the centuries-old Mercator projection with alternatives such as Equal Earth.
For centuries, the maps most people have used to visualize the world have made some regions appear far larger than they actually are. The Mercator projection, introduced by Gerardus Mercator in 1569 for maritime navigation, enlarges areas farther from the equator, making regions such as Greenland, Europe and North America appear disproportionately large. Africa, which covers about 30.3 million square kilometers, is roughly 14 times larger than Greenland, yet the two can appear similar in size on a Mercator map. The UN resolution, adopted by 164 votes to one with six abstentions, encourages governments, schools and other institutions to use equal-area projections such as Equal Earth when comparing the size of continents. The nonbinding resolution does not ban the Mercator projection or require countries to adopt a single replacement map.In an interview with African Currents, Togo’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Prof. Robert Dussey, called for greater African unity and a stronger voice on the global stage. He said Africans must push for fairer representation in international institutions, including permanent seats on the UN Security Council, while taking greater responsibility for the continent’s development and global image.Listen to the full interview on the African Currents podcast, presented by Sputnik Africa.► Stream the podcast on Telegram, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Pocket Casts, Afripods, Podcast Addict.► Subscribe to and explore all the episodes of African Currents.
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"Africa Has One Voice Now"—How Togo Led a Historic UN Victory to Remap the Continent
The United Nations General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to promote a new world map that more accurately reflects the size of Africa and other continents, replacing the distorted proportions of the centuries-old Mercator projection with alternatives such as Equal Earth.
For centuries, the maps most people have used to visualize the world have made some regions appear far larger than they actually are. The Mercator projection, introduced by Gerardus Mercator in 1569 for maritime navigation, enlarges areas farther from the equator, making regions such as Greenland, Europe and North America appear disproportionately large. Africa, which covers about 30.3 million square kilometers, is roughly 14 times larger than Greenland, yet the two can appear similar in size on a Mercator map. The UN resolution, adopted by 164 votes to one with six abstentions, encourages governments, schools and other institutions to use equal-area projections such as Equal Earth when comparing the size of continents. The nonbinding resolution does not ban the Mercator projection or require countries to adopt a single replacement map.
In an interview with African Currents, Togo’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Prof. Robert Dussey, called for greater African unity and a stronger voice on the global stage. He said Africans must push for fairer representation in international institutions, including permanent seats on the UN Security Council, while taking greater responsibility for the continent’s development and global image.
"First of all, I would like to thank and congratulate all the colleagues and the African people who supported that resolution [...]. When you see the Mercator map. It's clear to everyone that we cannot continue to support something like an unfair situation, as we have. It's not a good map for us in terms of the projection, in terms of the image of Africa, in terms also of the things that we would like to present to everyone. This decision is not only a Togolese decision. It is a decision of African people [...]. When Africa has one voice as a continent, we can be sure we will win. It's clear [...]. This resolution has demonstrated once again the role that we have to play in Africa [...]. Africa is a big continent. We are in the center of the world. We also have to be in the center of the world in terms of development, in terms of transforming the lives of the population, in terms of a good education, in terms of potable water, in terms of electricity, energy," Prof. Dussey said.
Listen to the full interview on the African Currents podcast, presented by Sputnik Africa.
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Subscribe to and explore all the episodes of African Currents.
