The "Map Amendment" resolution, aimed at promoting map projections that accurately reflect the size of continents, was approved in early September in New York and was a significant success for African countries that led this campaign. In the General Assembly, 164 member countries voted in favor of using the "Equal Earth" projection and other equal-area maps instead of the 16th-century Mercator projection.
Statements from the Foreign Minister of Togo
Robert Dussey, the Foreign Minister of Togo, who supported the "Map Amendment" campaign at the United Nations, referred to this success as a "sense of pride." He stated, "Finally, Africa is striving to reclaim its place in the community of nations. The position that has been reserved for it until today is unjust and does not correspond to the realities of Africa in any historical, geographical, or economic dimension."
Changes in Global Maps
Dussey also emphasized that the discussion about global maps clearly relates to the symbolic redefinition of maps of facts and knowledge, culture, and identity, aiming to correct misconceptions about political and economic realities and power. The only member country of the United Nations that voted against this resolution was the United States, whose President, Donald Trump, has been involved in various symbolic political actions, including issuing orders to rename places on maps.
This resolution is part of a broader global trend that, according to French historian Romain Tiquet from the Global Africa Institute, has been taking shape since the late 2000s and early 2010s. He stated, "Many questions are being researched: Who created the categories through which we conceptualize the world? From which places? And what power dynamics arise from this? And cartography fits into this context."
Financial and Political Intervention from Malawi
African countries are also striving to free their educational systems from colonial influences. For instance, in October 2025, the Malian government decided to remove French history from the school curriculum. This decision was made to stop teaching about the French Revolution and focus on the history of Mali and the ancient kingdoms of West Africa.
In recent years, the military government of this country has completely severed ties with its former colonial power. Mali halted its military cooperation with France in 2022, and French soldiers withdrew from the country. Burkina Faso and Niger have also adopted the same approach, and the three countries formed the Sahel Alliance in 2023.
Efforts to Reclaim African History
Filimon Motoyi from the University of Temani in Tanzania said that Mali has taken an important step: "As a historian, I believe that a country that does not have a strong understanding of its history is like a country that lacks clear leadership and direction. This decision is important to strengthen patriotism and create a stronger sense of national identity."
Motoyi also noted that many other African countries, including Ghana, Namibia, South Africa, and Kenya, have adopted a similar approach. He added that his country, Tanzania, has recently made significant changes to its school curriculum, with "Tanzanian History and Ethics" replacing world history as a mandatory subject and being taught in Swahili, the country's national language.
However, Motoyi warned that knowledge about other countries and their histories should not be erased. He emphasized the importance of having a deep understanding of significant events in world history but stated that this could be done at a later stage.
Efforts to Change Media Narratives
School education in a formal environment is only part of the puzzle. The non-profit organization "Africa Without Filters" is one of the organizations that has helped the "Map Amendment" campaign. This organization seeks to challenge and change harmful narratives about Africa.
In a report titled "The Cost of Media Stereotypes for Africa," it is stated that "Africa may lose up to $4.2 billion (3.6 billion euros) annually due to biased media coverage." François Bouda, an arts and culture officer at Africa Without Filters, said that the media continues to portray Africa as a continent that is poor, corrupt, and in crisis. The goal of this campaign is to change this perception.
Bouda stated, "We tell Africans that we must also change the way we see the continent of Africa. We have accepted an image of a continent that cannot take care of itself, a continent that is poor and lacks opportunities. We have internalized this and believe it, even though many positive things are happening. Primarily, an internal change must occur."
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