Morocco has officially renamed the Tiznit-Dakhla highway in honour of former US President Donald Trump, following his administration's recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.
The announcement was confirmed through a letter from King Mohammed VI to Trump, published by Morocco's state press agency. In the letter dated 2 July, the king described the renaming as "a personal expression of my high regard" and praised Trump's "historic recognition" of Morocco's claim to the disputed territory.
The highway, spanning 1,055 kilometres, links northern and southern Morocco and extends into Western Sahara, a region largely occupied and claimed by Morocco but contested by the Polisario Front, which seeks independence for the Sahrawi people.
During Trump's first term in 2020, the United States became the first country to officially recognise Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara, as part of a deal that also saw Morocco normalise relations with Israel.
King Mohammed VI highlighted the strength of bilateral relations, describing them as "vigorous and fruitful" during Trump's presidency, and noted that the recognition would be "forever etched in the memory of Moroccans, from generation to generation."
Western Sahara remains a long-standing territorial dispute, with the United Nations classifying it as a "non-self-governing territory" and advocating for a referendum on self-determination, which has yet to take place. The African Union recognises Western Sahara's independence, while some European countries support Morocco's autonomy plan without endorsing full independence.
Trump shared the news on his Truth Social platform last week, including a video highlighting the highway's nearly $1 billion construction cost, and expressed a desire to travel its full length in the future.
