In a significant gesture, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has officially named a prominent highway, linking the country’s southern regions to the contested territory of Western Sahara, after former American President Donald Trump. This decision, publicly announced by the official Moroccan news agency MAP, acknowledges Trump’s historic recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara.

The newly designated route, specifically the Tiznit-Dakhla expressway, will now be known as the “Donald J. Trump Highway.” The King conveyed this decision in a letter to President Trump on July 2nd, expressing profound gratitude for his 2020 declaration. King Mohammed VI emphasized that Trump’s “historic recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara will forever be etched in the memory of Moroccans.”

“As a tribute to this testament of friendship and peace, I have decided to name one of the kingdom’s most crucial road infrastructures, the ‘Donald J. Trump Highway’,” the King wrote. He further highlighted the impressive scale of the project, noting that the 1,055-kilometer road represents the longest highway infrastructure across the entire African continent.

Unwavering support for a lasting solution

In December 2020, Donald Trump made a pivotal announcement, extending his support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty. This endorsement was part of a broader agreement that also included the normalization of relations between Morocco and Israel.

Western Sahara, a vast desert territory rich in phosphates and abundant fishing waters, was formerly a Spanish colony until 1975. While Morocco controls the majority of this land, the United Nations still classifies it as a non-self-governing territory. For five decades, Rabat has been embroiled in a conflict with the Polisario Front independence movement, which receives backing from Algeria. In a message to King Mohammed VI, marking the 27th anniversary of his ascension to the throne, Donald Trump reiterated his steadfast support for Rabat’s proposed solution for Western Sahara.

The United States maintains that the Moroccan proposal stands as “the sole basis for a just and lasting solution,” with Donald Trump asserting that “any other path prolongs the status quo and is unacceptable.” Expressing his delight on his Truth Social platform on July 26th, Trump welcomed the news of King Mohammed VI dedicating a highway in Western Sahara in his honor.

“Thank you to His Royal Highness Mohammed VI. (…) What an immense honor! I look forward to one day traveling the entire length of this great highway, I hope it will be soon!” the former US President remarked.