A landmark decision by King Mohammed VI has etched former US President Donald Trump’s name into Morocco’s infrastructure landscape. The newly christened Autoroute Donald J. Trump stretches across the vast desert terrain, connecting southern Morocco to the disputed Sahara Occidental territory—a region claimed by Sahrawi independence advocates.
The 1,055-kilometer expressway, now the longest roadway in Africa, was officially announced through a letter from the Moroccan monarch to Trump on July 2. In his correspondence, King Mohammed VI expressed gratitude for Trump’s 2020 acknowledgment of Morocco’s sovereignty over Sahara Occidental, calling it a “historic recognition” that “will forever remain etched in the memory of Moroccans.”
“In tribute to this gesture of friendship and peace, I have decided to name one of the kingdom’s most vital infrastructures after President Donald J. Trump,” the king stated. The tribute underscores Morocco’s deep appreciation for the pivotal US support in validating its position on the long-standing territorial dispute.
Trump’s 2020 stance reshapes the Sahara Occidental debate
In a decisive move in December 2020, Donald Trump announced US backing for Morocco’s autonomy plan for Sahara Occidental—a proposal contingent on the normalization of Morocco-Israel relations. This abrupt policy shift marked a turning point in the decades-long conflict that has pitted Rabat against the Polisario Front, a Sahrawi independence movement backed by Algeria.
The Sahara Occidental region, a former Spanish colony, is rich in phosphate reserves and boasts abundant fishing grounds. Despite Morocco’s de facto control over much of the territory, the United Nations continues to classify it as a non-self-governing area. The stalemate has persisted for half a century, with both sides entrenched in their positions.
In a public message to King Mohammed VI on the 27th anniversary of his ascension to the throne, Trump reaffirmed unwavering US support for Rabat’s autonomy initiative. “The Moroccan plan remains the sole foundation for a fair and lasting resolution,” Trump asserted. “Any alternative path only prolongs the status quo, which is unacceptable.”
On his Truth Social platform, Trump celebrated the highway’s renaming, calling it “a tremendous honor.” He expressed eagerness to traverse the entire length of the route someday, signaling his continued engagement with Morocco’s Sahara Occidental policy.
