US Apologises Over Incorrect Africa Map Display

The United States has apologised after an inaccurate map of Africa was displayed during a presentation at the International AIDS Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, drawing criticism from delegates and African partners.

The US State Department described the incident as “an unfortunate error” and accepted responsibility for the mistake, saying it regretted the confusion caused during the presentation.

The map, displayed by the US delegation during a session on global health assistance, incorrectly placed several African countries. Nigeria appeared as a landlocked country in Central Africa, while Mozambique was shown in the Horn of Africa. Côte d’Ivoire was also incorrectly positioned in Southern Africa.

Images of the flawed map quickly circulated on social media after conference participants highlighted the geographical errors. The incident attracted widespread attention, prompting the US government to issue a formal apology.

According to the State Department, the mistakes occurred after a member of the delegation made last-minute changes to the presentation shortly before it was delivered. Officials stressed that the errors did not reflect the US government’s understanding of Africa or its engagement with countries across the continent.

Despite the incident, the department said discussions at the conference remained productive. The event opened against the backdrop of significant reductions in US foreign aid following President Donald Trump’s return to office. However, the United States remains the world’s largest public contributor to global HIV programmes, providing about 74% of international public funding for HIV response efforts, according to UNAIDS.

SOURCE: AFP