Trump says Morocco named Tiznit-Dakhla highway after him: Why it matters | Border Disputes News
Morocco’s Highway Named After Trump Sparks Interest Amid Diplomatic Context
United States President Donald Trump announced Monday that Morocco has named a significant highway in his honor, a statement that has taken many by surprise, especially as the Moroccan government has not publicly confirmed the action.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump expressed gratitude to King Mohammed VI and indicated his eagerness to travel on the newly named “Great Highway.” Experts suggest that if the announcement is verified, it aligns with the historically close relations between the U.S. and Morocco, particularly fostered during Trump’s administration.
Morocco was a signatory to the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations with Israel in 2020, a deal brokered by Trump. This relationship was bolstered by U.S. support at the United Nations, particularly regarding Morocco’s claims over the disputed territory of Western Sahara.
Intissar Fakir, an analyst at the Middle East Institute, noted that the timing of the announcement may be linked to Morocco’s aspirations to host the final match of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, a tournament that will include co-hosts Spain and Portugal. She suggested that the section of the highway dedicated to Trump may have only recently been completed.
Recent infrastructure projects in Morocco, including the highway in question, aim to strengthen the nation’s control over Western Sahara, a territory embroiled in a longstanding conflict. The Tiznit-Dakhla highway, fully operational since January, is a 1,055-kilometer route linking southern Morocco with Mauritania, with an investment of approximately $1 billion.
The highway, which travels through Laayoune—central to Morocco’s claims on Western Sahara—connects to the Dakhla Peninsula, where Morocco is developing a new Atlantic port. Morocco’s strategic location has long been envisioned as a trade hub linking Europe and Africa.
In 2023, Morocco launched the Atlantic Initiative to enhance port access for landlocked Sahel countries such as Mali and Burkina Faso. Recent statistics indicate that African exports through Morocco grew significantly, from $300 million in 2004 to $3 billion by 2024.
Western Sahara remains a contested area recognized by the UN as a non-self-governing territory. Following Spain’s withdrawal in 1975, the region has witnessed conflict driven by Morocco’s claims and the separatist Polisario Front’s quest for independence, leading to a 16-year war and the displacement of thousands of Sahrawis.
Analysts point to Morocco’s substantial investments in the territory’s infrastructure as efforts to reinforce its position. Morocco continually faces criticism over its resource management within Western Sahara, particularly concerning phosphate mining.
Current territorial control shows that Morocco governs most of Western Sahara, while the Polisario Front maintains claims along the borders with Algeria and Mauritania. The region is separated by a fortified barrier.
In November 2020, the Polisario Front ended a decades-long ceasefire with Morocco, reigniting armed conflict. Subsequently, the Trump administration recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, a first for a Western government.
The U.S. maintained its position with a Security Council resolution in 2025, emphasizing negotiations based on Morocco’s autonomy plan for the region—an arrangement that permits a level of self-governance without rejecting Moroccan sovereignty.
Tensions between Morocco and Algeria persist, particularly as Algeria supports the Sahrawi independence movement and views its position as integral to its foreign policy. Diplomatic relations remain strained following Morocco’s normalization with Israel.
Recent developments indicate a potential thaw in relations, with U.S.-facilitated discussions taking place between Morocco, the Polisario Front, Algeria, and Mauritania regarding the conflict.
The U.S. Department of Commerce recently announced funding for an ammonium project in Western Sahara, marking a notable economic development in an area primarily defined by its political challenges.
As the situation evolves, the international community continues to monitor the dynamics surrounding the newly named highway and its implications for Morocco’s ambitions in the region.
