UN to vote on adopting new world map that shows Africa’s true scale

Togo-sponsored resolution calls to phase out traditional map that depicts continent as similar size to Greenland

The UN general assembly will vote on Friday on a resolution for the world to formally phase out the traditional Mercator map of the globe in favour of one that more accurately displays Africa’s size.

Robert Dussey, Togo’s foreign affairs minister, said the resolution was sponsored by Togo and backed by countries including the African Union’s 54 other member states. He did not specify the total number.