In brief
A formal letter from Morocco’s King Mohammed VI confirms the country’s decision to name its Tiznit‑Dakhla highway after former U.S. President Donald Trump. The gesture follows Trump’s public thank‑you and highlights Morocco’s 2020 claim of Western Sahara, recognised by the United States. The 1,055‑kilometre road, a major strategic axis, now bears a name that symbolizes the deepening diplomatic ties between Morocco and the U.S., amid an unresolved territorial conflict.
A formal letter from Morocco’s King Mohammed VI confirms the country’s decision to name its 1,055‑kilometre Tiznit‑Dakhla highway after former U.S. President Donald Trump. The decree followed Trump’s recent social‑media message thanking the king for the honour, though the change had not yet appeared in official Moroccan announcements.
The king framed the renaming as a “personal expression of high regard” toward the former president, citing the historic U.S. recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara back in 2020. This recognition was part of a wider agreement that also normalised relations with Israel.
Western Sahara remains a contested territory, with a majority of the region under Moroccan administration and a sizeable portion controlled by the Polisario Front. The United Nations still lists it as a non‑self‑governing territory, while the African Union recognises its independence.
The new name designates the stretch as a “strategic axis” linking the northern and southern parts of the country. The road, which runs from Tiznit to Dakhla, is also the main artery into the disputed area.
Trump’s announcement on Truth Social highlighted the road’s cost—nearly $1bn— and underscored his enthusiasm for travelling the entire length “someday, hopefully soon.” The gesture illustrates the strengthening diplomatic ties between Morocco and the United States.
For residents of the region and visitors, the renaming will likely affect map labels and navigation apps, but it also carries political symbolism for both sides of the long‑standing conflict.
