For centuries, the Mercator projection, which depicts the Earth on a flat map, has been the dominant means of representing the Earth's surface. Due to the nature of the projection, the shape of the continents was accurate, but their relative sizes were entirely distorted.

Under this projection, Greenland and Africa appear almost the same size, even though Africa is in reality 14 times larger. This reinforces the perception of Africa's marginality despite its enormous size and population, and shapes narratives in the media, education and politics, according to the proponents of a new cartographic representation. "Correct the Map" is the name of the campaign that the African Union (AU) has tasked Togo with advancing, with the aim of ending the use of the Mercator map by governments and international organisations. Togo is to submit a corresponding motion to the UN General Assembly in the autumn. The campaign, led by the advocacy groups Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa, calls for the adoption of the Equal Earth projection of 2018, which seeks to represent the actual size of countries.

The Mercator projection was developed in the 16th century by Gerardus Mercator, whose conformal projection was enormously important for maritime navigators. Its drawback was the highly distorted representation of the relative sizes of the continents. Nevertheless, the Mercator projection remains widespread and is used by schools and technology companies worldwide.

An equal-area projection developed by the German geographer Arno Peters had previously failed to gain acceptance, as its depiction of the shape of the continents deviated considerably from reality. "Getting the representation right is not just about maps — it is about agency, progress and ensuring that the world sees Africa as it truly is," said Moky Makura, Executive Director of Africa No Filter.

A vote could potentially take place at the next UN General Assembly in September.