Lhe most commonly used map of the world is based on the projection method developed in 1569 by European cartographer Geert de Kremer, known as Gerard Mercator. The longitudes are represented there by parallel vertical lines spaced out identically, the latitudes by parallel horizontal lines distant as for them in an increasing way as the distance with the equator increases.
This method tends to magnify areas of higher and lower latitudes. As a result, the world maps we are used to using greatly distort the area of Africa, making it much smaller than it actually is. On the contrary, Russia, Greenland and Canada seem huge.
Such a projection has important implications for Africa. Historically, scholars argue that the standard projection constitutes a political tool contributing to the Scramble for Africa – also known as the Partition of Africa – which saw Western European powers colonize the continent in the late 19th centurye century.
Africa is essential
If the representation of Mercator indeed contributed to give the impression of a small easily colonizable territory, this distorted perception persists today. However, whether from an economic, political or demographic – and even cartographic – point of view, Africa is unavoidable.
One of the consequences of this ignorance of the real size of Africa is that its agricultural lands and its subsoil remain relatively unexplored, even if this has tended to change in recent decades. There ” land rush », this renewed interest in large-scale land investments started with the soaring food prices in 2011. It remains to be seen whether this phenomenon will serve the interests of the continent.
At the same time, the exploration efforts and discoveries of subsurface resources have steadily increased over the past decades, leading to what the American Association of Petroleum Geologist (AAPG) calls an “oil boom.” According to the AAPG, explorations have been successful on the continent, not only in traditional oil-exporting countries, such as Nigeria, Congo and Angola, but also in Mozambique, Tanzania, Senegal and Mauritania. .
Monetary policy not an appropriate tool
Again, concerns about energy security in Europe and rising energy prices have been accompanied by major investment announcements in Africa. However, it is not certain that these will promote its own energy security – or that new energy export revenues will have a positive effect on economic and social development.
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