Morocco confirms major highway renamed in honour of Trump

Morocco has confirmed that a major highway has been renamed in honour of US President Donald Trump, according to a letter from King Mohammed VI published by the country's state press agency. The road was formerly known as the Tiznit-Dakhla highway and runs into Western Sahara, the disputed territory that Morocco occupies and claims as its own. The confirmation follows a social media post by Trump last week thanking the king for the honour, although Moroccan authorities had not previously made a parallel announcement.

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In the letter, dated 2 July and published over the weekend, the king said the name change was being made as "a personal expression of my high regard". He praised Trump's "historic recognition" of Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara, saying it would "forever be etched in the memory of Moroccans, from generation to generation". The monarch also described the 1,055km highway as a "strategic axis" linking the north and south of Morocco.

The highway enters Western Sahara, most of which is controlled by Morocco, while part is held by the Polisario Front, an armed group that seeks independence for the Sahrawi people. The territory was a former Spanish colony and is listed by the United Nations as a non-self-governing territory. The dispute has lasted for five decades and remains one of Africa's longest-running conflicts.

Morocco refers to Western Sahara as its southern provinces. The naming also reflects the diplomatic significance of Trump's first-term recognition of Morocco's claim over the territory in 2020. That recognition formed part of a wider deal in which Morocco agreed to normalise relations with Israel.

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The king's letter said relations between Rabat and Washington had been especially strong during Trump's two presidential terms, and framed the highway as a symbol of that relationship. The issue remains politically sensitive because Western Sahara's final status has never been settled through a vote. The United Nations has repeatedly called for a solution, including a referendum, while the African Union recognises Western Sahara's independence.

Some European governments, including the UK and Spain, have more recently backed Morocco's autonomy plan, while stopping short of recognising independence. What remains unclear is how the renaming will be implemented in practice and whether Moroccan officials will issue further public details. The letter confirms the king's position, but it does not set out any additional administrative steps or timing beyond the published correspondence.

The development is likely to be watched closely for its diplomatic implications, particularly given the continuing dispute over Western Sahara and the role of US policy in Morocco's position.

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