Morocco has chosen a truly unique way to express its gratitude. King Mohammed VI decreed that a major highway, connecting the nation’s south to the contested Western Sahara territory—a region claimed by Sahrawi separatists—would bear the name of former United States President Donald Trump. This significant gesture was publicly confirmed by the official Moroccan news agency MAP on Saturday, August 1st. Such a tribute is likely to resonate well with a figure known for prominently branding his name on various assets.
The Tiznit-Dakhla expressway has officially been designated the “Donald J. Trump Highway”, according to MAP. This announcement followed the release of a letter dated July 2nd, sent by King Mohammed VI to the then-American president, detailing the decision. In his correspondence, the monarch emphasized that this naming serves as a profound thank you for Mr. Trump’s “historic recognition in 2020 of Morocco’s sovereignty over ‘its Sahara,’ an act that will forever be etched into the collective memory of the Moroccan people.”
A mutually beneficial endorsement since 2020
“As a testament to this display of friendship and peace, I have resolved to name one of the kingdom’s most crucial road infrastructures the ‘Donald J. Trump Highway’,” the King affirmed. This monumental project spans 1,055 kilometers, making it “the longest road infrastructure across the entire African continent,” he further noted.
In December 2020, Donald Trump unexpectedly declared his support for a Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara, a move that coincided with the normalization of relations between Morocco and Israel.
This expansive desert territory, formerly a Spanish colony until 1975, boasts rich phosphate deposits and abundant fishing waters. While largely administered by Morocco, it remains classified by the United Nations as a non-self-governing territory. For five decades, Rabat has been embroiled in a conflict over the region with the Polisario Front independence movement, which receives backing from Algeria.
A precisely targeted tribute
In a message addressed to the King for the 27th anniversary of his ascension to the throne this week, also released by MAP on Saturday, President Trump reiterated his unwavering support for Rabat’s proposal concerning Western Sahara. He asserted that for the United States, the Moroccan plan represents “the sole foundation for a just and lasting resolution.” “Any alternative path merely perpetuates the status quo and is unacceptable,” Trump further stated.
On his Truth Social platform, Donald Trump expressed his delight on July 26th at King Mohammed VI’s decision to name a highway in Western Sahara after him. “Thank you to His Royal Highness Mohammed VI. (…) What a tremendous honor! I look forward to traveling the entire length of this Great Highway someday, hopefully soon!” Trump posted, although Rabat had not yet officially confirmed his announcement at that time.
The Tiznit-Dakhla axis, initiated by Mohammed VI in 2015, stands as a testament to Morocco’s substantial infrastructure investments within Western Sahara.
This ongoing project encompasses an expressway connecting Tiznit to Laâyoune, considered the vibrant heart of Western Sahara, further extending with an expanded national road leading to Dakhla. The total expenditure for this ambitious undertaking is estimated at nearly 850 million euros.