A major controversy has erupted after a map of Africa displayed by the U.S. State Department at the AIDS 2026 Conference in Rio de Janeiro reportedly mislabeled every African country.

The incorrect map quickly drew criticism from delegates and observers after analyses found major geographical errors, including Nigeria being shown as a landlocked country in the Sahara, Mozambique placed in the Horn of Africa, and Ivory Coast located on the wrong side of the continent.

The controversy deepened after reports revealed that the presentation slide contained an AI watermark, indicating it had been created using OpenAI tools. The U.S. State Department accepted responsibility for the mistake, saying a staff member hastily modified the presentation before the event. OpenAI said it was investigating the reports surrounding the incident.

U.S. Govt's Map of Africa Sparks Controversy | Wion 

A map displayed by the U.S. government during the AIDS 2026 Conference in Rio de Janeiro has sparked controversy after reports claimed that every African country was incorrectly labelled or misplaced.

The map reportedly showed Nigeria as a landlocked country, placed Mozambique in the Horn of Africa, and positioned Ivory Coast on the wrong side of the continent. The slide also reportedly carried an OpenAI watermark, raising questions about whether AI-generated content was used without proper verification.

U.S. Sparks Controversy After Mislabeling Every African Country on Conference Map

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U.S. Govt's Map of Africa Sparks Controversy | Wion

U.S. Sparks Controversy After Mislabeling Every African Country on Conference Map