STORY: The U.N. General Assembly on Friday (September 4) overwhelmingly approved an African-led resolution promoting the use of the Equal Earth map projection, a move supporters said would help correct decades of distorted perceptions about the size and importance of Africa and other regions.

The measure passed 164-1, with six abstentions, and the United States casting the sole vote against.

Togo, which led the initiative, argued that the widely used Mercator projection exaggerates the size of regions near the poles while making Africa appear far smaller than it is. Foreign Minister Robert Dussey said the issue concerned "cognitive justice," historic memory and equal dignity, urging wider adoption of the Equal Earth projection.

Russia welcomed the vote, calling it a step toward overcoming colonial-era legacies and strengthening Africa's global role. Britain backed the resolution, saying it did not take a position on political boundaries.

The United States opposed the measure, dismissing it as an ideological distraction from more pressing international challenges.

Ukraine abstained, citing concerns that the text could blur interpretations of territorial integrity issues, including Crimea, by promoting the Equal Earth projection without reference to existing U.N. resolutions on sovereignty and borders.

The non-binding resolution does not affect the Mercator map's continued use for navigation.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: UNITED NATIONS (SEPTEMBER 4, 2026) (UNTV - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF VOTING IN PROCESS AND VOTE PASSING

2. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIA'S DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO U.N., MARIA ZABOLOTSKAYA, SAYING AFTER VOTE:

"Russia has been consistent in its advocacy for overcoming the legacy of colonialism, and we support combating the practice of neo-colonialism as well. We support the independent efforts of African states, efforts aiming to restore historic justice and strengthen Africa's role as one of the unique and influential centers of the contemporary multipolar world. This is precisely why Russia supported this African initiative. And we congratulate the African group on the adoption of this resolution. This resolution demonstrates the clear fact that when the African group is unified, then they can move a huge stone, including decades of injustice. Thank you."

3. UK'S AMBASSADOR TO U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ARCHIE YOUNG (OFF CAMERA) SPEAKING AFTER VOTE

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UK'S AMBASSADOR TO U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ARCHIE YOUNG, SAYING AFTER VOTE:

"Noting that the resolution does not take a position on the political boundaries of any state, and the importance of educational awareness and map projections, the United Kingdom has voted in favor of this resolution in good faith."

5. TOGO'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER ROBERT DUSSEY APPROACHING MICROPHONE TO SPEAK BEFORE VOTE

6. (SOUNDBITE) (French) TOGO'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER ROBERT DUSSEY, SAYING BEFORE VOTE:

"For several centuries, certain cartographic projections that are used in school textbooks, media, digital platforms, and many official documents do not accurately reflect the true extent of our continents. If these projections were based on specific technical objectives, such as maritime navigation, their use for general information, or for educational purposes, continues to influence the perception that entire generations have about how the world looks. And the persistence of these distortions in maps has caused, throughout time, significant consequences. It has contributed to symbolically minimizing the size of Africa, as well as other regions, which has created an unbalanced vision of global geography."

7. DUSSEY SPEAKING

8. (SOUNDBITE) (French) TOGO'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER ROBERT DUSSEY, SAYING BEFORE VOTE:

"So this issue goes far beyond just the sphere of map-making or cartography. It has to do with cognitive justice, with access to precise geographical knowledge, the dignity of peoples, historic memory, and the fight against representations that we have inherited and have an influence on perception."

9. GENERAL ASSEMBLY ROOM

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOGO'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER ROBERT DUSSEY, SAYING BEFORE VOTE:

"Our approach, the African Group approach, is not directed against any nation, any civilization, or any cartographic tradition. It's guided by a universal ambition to promote knowledge based on scientific accuracy, respect for truth, and equal dignity for all people. Its ambition is simple, to promote a projection that better preserves the true proportions of continents, particularly Equal Earth Projections, including the Equal Earth projection preferred, of course, by African Union."

11. GENERAL ASSEMBLY ROOM

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEPUTY U.S. REPRESENTATIVE TO THE U.N. ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL, YARYNA FERENCEVYCH, SAYING:

"Instead of focusing on genuine problems of international peace, prosperity, or good relations, this body is debating map projects from the 16th century and their role in promoting reparations and cognitive justice. Resolutions like this one and the ideological agenda they promote are barnacles on our work here and the reason this institution is losing its credibility. When the United Nations questions why it is losing legitimacy in the world and is not taken seriously time and again, we point to resolutions such as this. We urge countries to instill common sense to this body and fully reject this text. The United States will vote no on this resolution."

13. GENERAL ASSEMBLY ROOM

14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINE'S PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO U.N., AMBASSADOR ANDRII MELNYK, SAYING BEFORE VOTE:

"It is regrettable that while correcting the grave historic injustices of the past, and finally addressing the dire consequences of colonialism, particularly in Africa, we at the same time might create new and no less serious problems, opening a back door to erroneous interpretations and creating an ambiguity that runs counter to the interests of every member state of the United Nations. For this reason, as the draft encourages member states to adopt, disseminate, and use the Equal Earth cartographic projection without ensuring that its application is fully consistent with relevant principles of the UN Charter and General Assembly resolutions concerning the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states, Ukraine cannot vote in favor of this draft resolution."

15. GENERAL ASSEMBLY ROOM