Not just symbolic: Kenya hails UN map vote as step towards correcting Africa’s image

Kenya has warmly welcomed the United Nations General Assembly's decision to endorse a new approach to world maps that more accurately represents the continent's geographical size. Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei hailed the move as a significant step beyond a symbolic victory, emphasizing that it reflects a growing acknowledgement of the need to correct longstanding distortions in how Africa is perceived globally.

The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on September 4, 2026, promoting cartographic representations that more accurately depict the relative size of countries and continents. Spearheaded by Togo and backed by the African Union, the resolution garnered 164 votes in favor, with the United States being the sole country to vote against it, coupled with six abstentions.

The initiative promotes the use of equal-area projections, including the Equal Earth map, which was developed in 2018. The debate largely centers on the widely used Mercator projection, developed in 1569, which significantly enlarges areas near the poles while shrinking those around the Equator. This projection has led to Africa appearing considerably smaller than it actually is, often making Greenland appear roughly comparable in size to Africa.

Supporters argue that repeated exposure to accurate representations can influence people's understanding of the geographical importance of different regions, sparking broader discussions on education, representation, and perceptions of Africa. Despite the vote, the resolution doesn't legally require countries to abandon the Mercator projection, which will continue to have practical uses, especially in navigation.