US admits Africa map error at AIDS conference

The US State Department acknowledged "an unfortunate error" Thursday after an inaccurate map of Africa was shown during a US presentation at an international AIDS conference in Brazil.

A department spokesperson said the United States took full responsibility for the confusion and misrepresentation caused for attendees, including African partners.

The slideshow, presented by the US delegation at the conference earlier this week, incorrectly located six African countries. Nigeria was shown as a landlocked country in the centre of Africa, Mozambique was placed in the Horn of Africa and Cote d'Ivoire was placed in southern Africa.

Conference participants revealed the error in social media posts after Reuters first reported it. The State Department said a team member on the ground had hastily modified the slideshow just before the presentation on US global health assistance.

The 26th International AIDS Conference opened Monday in Rio de Janeiro. The State Department said the United States still had "substantive and constructive" discussions at the conference.