In recognition of former US President Donald Trump’s historic 2020 decision to acknowledge Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, King Mohammed VI announced on August 1 that the Tiznit-Dakhla expressway will bear the American leader’s name.
Moroccan motorists will soon travel on the Donald Trump Highway, following a royal decree issued by King Mohammed VI on August 1. The monarch announced that the Tiznit-Dakhla expressway—a 1,055-kilometer route—would be renamed in honor of the former US president, citing Trump’s pivotal role in recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara in 2020.
In a formal letter dated July 2, the king expressed his gratitude for what he described as a “historic gesture of friendship and peace”, emphasizing that Trump’s decision would remain “forever etched in the memory of Moroccans.” The newly christened highway is not only a symbol of diplomatic appreciation but also Africa’s longest road infrastructure, spanning from Tiznit in the north to Dakhla in the far south.
Western Sahara: A decades-long territorial dispute
Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony until 1975, is a mineral-rich desert region with abundant phosphate reserves and thriving fishing grounds. While Morocco has controlled most of the territory since 1975, the United Nations continues to classify it as a non-self-governing area awaiting a resolution.
Trump’s 2020 endorsement of Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara marked a turning point in the decades-long conflict. The proposal—backed by Rabat—called for limited self-rule under Moroccan sovereignty, a model Trump supported in exchange for Morocco’s normalization of relations with Israel. This diplomatic breakthrough reshaped the geopolitical landscape of North Africa.
A symbolic gesture with lasting implications
In a reciprocal message marking the 27th anniversary of King Mohammed VI’s accession to the throne, Trump reaffirmed his unwavering support for Morocco’s position on Western Sahara. The highway naming ceremony underscores the enduring impact of the former US president’s 2020 decision, which continues to shape bilateral relations between the two nations.
