The African Union (AU) has officially joined the growing call to abandon the outdated 16th-century Mercator map, urging global institutions to adopt more accurate representations of the world—especially of Africa. The AU argues that the Mercator projection, originally designed for navigation, grossly distorts the size of continents, shrinking Africa while inflating regions like Europe and North America.

Speaking on behalf of the AU, Deputy Chair Selma Malika Haddadi said the map fosters a “misleading perception” of Africa’s significance, despite it being the world’s second-largest continent. She emphasized that such distortions impact education, media, and policy, making Africa appear “marginal.”

The AU’s 55 member states will now advocate for the adoption of fairer alternatives, such as the Equal Earth projection, which corrects geographic inaccuracies and reflects true landmass sizes. This push aligns with broader efforts to reclaim Africa’s global standing and address the legacies of colonialism.

The move follows momentum from the Correct the Map campaign, spearheaded by advocacy groups Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa, which label the Mercator map “the world’s longest misinformation campaign.”

Advocates argue that accurate maps are vital to restoring African identity and pride—starting in the classroom.