Morocco honours trump with desert highway amid Sahara western Sahara recognition

In a gesture both symbolic and unmistakable, Morocco has paid tribute to a major diplomatic ally by immortalising an American leader’s name on one of its most ambitious infrastructure projects. The decision, endorsed by King Mohammed VI, saw the 1,055-kilometre Tiznit-Dakhla expressway rechristened as the “Donald J. Trump Highway”, as confirmed by the Moroccan state news agency MAP on August 1.

The move is widely seen as a direct expression of gratitude from the Moroccan monarch, who personally communicated the decision to the US president in a letter dated July 2. In that correspondence, the King underlined that Trump’s decision to recognise Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara in late 2020 would forever remain etched in the nation’s collective memory.

An infrastructure milestone tied to diplomatic breakthrough

Covering a distance equivalent to nearly the entire length of the African continent’s longest roadway, the Donald J. Trump Highway stretches from Tiznit in southern Morocco to Dakhla in the contested Western Sahara region. Its completion, though still underway, marks a significant milestone in the kingdom’s sustained investment in the area.

The highway project, initiated by Mohammed VI in 2015, includes a high-speed segment linking Tiznit to Laâyoune—the administrative heart of Western Sahara—before extending into a widened national road that reaches Dakhla. With an estimated price tag of nearly 850 million euros, the initiative reflects Morocco’s long-term vision for integrating and developing the southern provinces.

A moment frozen in diplomatic history

President Trump, in a public message marking the 27th anniversary of King Mohammed VI’s enthronement, reiterated his unwavering support for Rabat’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara. Washington continues to view the Moroccan proposal as “the only basis for a fair and lasting solution”, asserting that any alternative would merely prolong the status quo and prove unacceptable.

The royal tribute followed Trump’s enthusiastic reaction on his Truth Social platform, where he celebrated the highway’s renaming as a personal honour. “Thank you to His Royal Highness King Mohammed VI… What an incredible honour! I can’t wait to drive the entire length of this magnificent highway soon—I hope it happens very soon!” the former US president wrote on July 26. While Rabat has not formally acknowledged the statement, it aligns perfectly with the kingdom’s policy of reinforcing strategic partnerships.

Western Sahara: terrain of enduring dispute

Formerly a Spanish colony until 1975, Western Sahara is a vast, resource-rich desert territory rich in phosphate deposits and teeming fisheries. Although much of it has been under Moroccan control for decades, the United Nations still classifies it as a non-self-governing territory.

A decades-long conflict persists between Morocco and the Polisario Front, the independence movement backed by Algeria. The naming of the highway underscores Morocco’s determination to assert its claims while celebrating international recognition of its position.