In a significant gesture, King Mohammed VI of Morocco has decreed that a prominent highway, linking the southern regions of the country to the contested territory of Western Sahara, will bear the name of former U.S. President Donald Trump. This decision was publicly announced on Saturday.
Donald Trump now has a highway named in his honor within Morocco. This vital road artery, connecting Morocco’s southern provinces to Western Sahara, has been officially designated after the former American president, following a royal decision by King Mohammed VI.
The Tiznit-Dakhla expressway has been formally renamed the “Autoroute Donald J. Trump.” This designation was revealed through a letter dispatched by King Mohammed VI to President Trump on July 2, outlining the royal decree. In his communication, the monarch underscored his intention to express gratitude for Trump’s “historic recognition in 2020 of Morocco’s sovereignty over ‘its Sahara’,” an act he stated would “forever be etched in the memory of Moroccans.”
“As a tribute to this testament of friendship and peace, I have resolved to name one of the kingdom’s most crucial road infrastructures, the ‘Autoroute Donald J. Trump’,” the King penned. He further noted that the 1,055-kilometer long roadway stands as the longest road infrastructure across the entire African continent.
The only foundation for a just and lasting resolution
In December 2020, Donald Trump unexpectedly endorsed Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara. This diplomatic move was part of a broader agreement that saw Morocco normalize its diplomatic relations with Israel.
Western Sahara, a vast desert expanse rich in phosphates and abundant fishing waters, was a Spanish colony until 1975. While Morocco controls the majority of this territory, 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, an independence movement backed by Algeria. In a message conveyed to King Mohammed VI for the 27th anniversary of his ascension to the throne this week, Donald Trump reaffirmed his unwavering support for Rabat’s proposal concerning Western Sahara.
The United States maintains that the Moroccan proposal represents “the sole basis for a just and lasting solution.” Trump articulated that “any other path prolongs the status quo and is unacceptable.” On July 26, Donald Trump himself expressed his delight on his Truth Social platform regarding King Mohammed VI’s decision to name a highway in Western Sahara after him.
“Thank you to His Royal Highness Mohammed VI. (…) What an immense honor! I eagerly anticipate traveling the entire length of this magnificent highway one day, hopefully soon!” the former U.S. President exclaimed.
