In a bold diplomatic gesture, Morocco has bestowed the name of former U.S. President Donald Trump upon a major highway linking the southern regions of the kingdom to the Western Sahara, a territory at the heart of a decades-long territorial dispute.

A newly inaugurated expressway connecting Tiznit to Dakhla has been officially designated as the «Donald J. Trump Highway,» as confirmed by official communications from the Moroccan government. The announcement followed a letter from King Mohammed VI addressed to President Trump on July 2, in which the monarch expressed his gratitude for the American leader’s pivotal decision in 2020.

In his correspondence, Mohammed VI highlighted the historic nature of the U.S. recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Western Sahara, calling it «a gesture that will forever be etched in the memory of the Moroccan people.» He further stated, «In tribute to this act of friendship and peace, I have decided to name one of the kingdom’s most vital infrastructure projects—the Donald J. Trump Highway.» Spanning an impressive 1,055 kilometers, this route stands as Africa’s longest roadway.

Mohammed VI’s tribute to a pivotal diplomatic move

In December 2020, then-President Trump made a landmark announcement, endorsing a Moroccan autonomy plan for the Western Sahara while facilitating the normalization of relations between Morocco and Israel. This decision marked a turning point in international perceptions of the decades-old conflict.

The Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, is a resource-rich desert territory with significant phosphate deposits and thriving fisheries. Although predominantly under Moroccan control, the United Nations continues to classify it as a non-self-governing territory. For half a century, Rabat has been locked in a bitter dispute with the Polisario Front, the independence movement backed by Algeria.

In a public message marking the 27th anniversary of his enthronement, President Trump reiterated Washington’s unwavering support for Morocco’s autonomy initiative. «The Moroccan proposal remains the sole foundation for a fair and lasting solution,» he stated. «Any alternative path only perpetuates the status quo, which is unacceptable.»

On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump celebrated the highway renaming as a «tremendous honor,» enthusiastically sharing, «Thank you to His Royal Highness King Mohammed VI (…) What an incredible honor! I can’t wait to drive the entire length of this magnificent highway—hopefully soon!»