Africa is reclaiming its place on the map. The 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, held in February 2026, endorsed the Correct the Map of Africa Initiative, championed by Togo, to address map projections that have long distorted the continent's true scale and significance.
Following the endorsement by the AU Assembly, Togo has elevated the initiative to the United Nations General Assembly, advocating for the adoption of map projections that accurately represent Africa's geographic reality. More than a cartographic correction, the initiative is part of a broader effort to challenge historical misconceptions and ensure Africa is represented in a manner consistent with its size, influence, and global contribution.
Recognised as one of the key outcomes of the 2025 Theme of the Year: Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations, the initiative reflects a growing continental consensus that correcting historical distortions, visual, structural, and narrative, is essential to restoring Africa’s dignity, identity, and global positioning.
The 9th Pan-African Congress, held in Lomé, Togo, in 2025 under the theme "Renewal of Pan-Africanism and Africa's Role in the Reform of Multilateral Institutions: Mobilizing Resources and Reinventing Itself to Act," played an important role in advancing discussions on the Correcting the Map of Africa Initiative. The Congress identified the initiative as part of Africa's broader agenda on historical justice, reparations, and narrative sovereignty, and called for action to address long-standing distortions that have shaped perceptions of the continent.
“This 9th Congress is a reaffirmation of who we are, a reclaiming of our collective destiny, and a turning point in our shared journey. Never since independence has Africa's future been so firmly in its own hands,” said H.E. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé., President of the Council of the Republic of Togo.”
Reinforcing this position, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, African Integration and Togolese Abroad, Prof Dussey, described correcting the map as a strategic imperative to restore Africa’s true scale, place, and voice in the world, paving the way for its endorsement by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government.
Led by the AUC Deputy Chairperson, Selma Malika Haddadi, and implemented through the Citizens and Diaspora Organizations Directorate (CIDO) of the African Union Commission, the Correcting the Map of Africa initiative is advancing the Union’s agenda on citizen engagement, diaspora participation, and narrative sovereignty. Welcoming its endorsement by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, the Deputy Chairperson described the initiative as a critical step in repositioning Africa globally. In an August 2025 interview with Reuters, she announced the AU’s support for the #CorrectTheMap campaign, calling for a shift away from the Mercator projection towards more accurate alternatives, such as the Equal Earth map, to reflect Africa’s true scale and address long-standing distortions that shape global perceptions, policy decisions, and education systems.
“It might seem to be just a map, but in reality, it is not,” AUC Deputy Chairperson, H.E Amb Selma Haddadi stated, noting that the Mercator projection has contributed to perceptions of Africa as marginal despite being the world’s second-largest continent and that such stereotypes continue to influence media, education, and policy. She further noted that the AU’s support for the campaign aligns with its objective of “reclaiming Africa’s rightful place on the global stage.”
More than a cartographic exercise, the initiative reflects the commitment of African Union Member States to strengthen Africa's global positioning and ensure that the continent is represented in its true scale, significance, and potential. The AU also acknowledges the important contributions of Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa, whose work in research, narrative change, and public engagement has helped advance this effort to ensure Africa is represented and understood on its own terms. Download the correct Map here
Implementation roadmap and next steps
To operationalise the Correcting the Map of Africa Initiative, the African Union Commission, in partnership with the Republic of Togo, will convene a continental workshop bringing together Member States, technical experts, educators, geospatial specialists, media practitioners, civil society organisations, and strategic partners. The workshop will develop a comprehensive implementation roadmap, defining clear policy, technical, advocacy, and communication actions to guide coordinated implementation across the continent and internationally.
In line with the Assembly Decision, the African Union Commission has established an interdepartmental working group to coordinate the implementation and rollout of the #CorrectTheMap campaign. The initiative seeks to advance the adoption of map projections that accurately reflect Africa's true scale, including the Equal Earth projection, and support their integration across education systems, digital platforms, media products, and global publishing tools. Engagement is already underway with technology companies, mapping providers, publishers, and educational institutions to encourage wider adoption of accurate mapping standards through our partners.
Implementation is driven through a one Commission approach. Director of the Citizens and Diaspora Organizations Directorate (CIDO) Ambassador Amr Aljowaily is leading overall coordination, stakeholder engagement, and the mobilisation of African citizens and the diaspora. The Information and Communication Directorate (ICD) is spearheading the continental awareness campaign, strategic communications, public engagement, and global advocacy efforts. The Department of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (ESTI) is leading the integration of accurate mapping standards into educational curricula, learning materials, and research, while the Department of Infrastructure and Energy (IED) is providing technical guidance on geospatial systems, mapping standards, and continental data frameworks.
At the global level, the African Union Commission will engage key international institutions, including the United Nations, the World Bank, educational bodies, technology companies, and global publishers, to promote the adoption of mapping standards that accurately represent Africa. These efforts will be supported through the African Union's Regional Offices in Washington, D.C., Brussels, Geneva, Beijing, and Cairo, working closely with the Partnerships and Resource Mobilisation Directorate (PMRM) to strengthen partnerships, mobilise resources, and build international support for accurate and inclusive representations of Africa.
The expected outcome is the adoption of accurate and inclusive mapping standards across education systems, digital platforms, publications, and international institutions, ensuring that Africa is represented in a manner consistent with its true scale, significance, and potential.
How Africa is represented influences how it is perceived, engaged with, and invested in. By correcting long-standing distortions, the initiative will strengthen Africa's global positioning and support a more accurate understanding of the continent's markets, infrastructure networks, connectivity corridors, and development opportunities.
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