Morocco names 1,055-km Sahara highway after Trump
Why it matters: The move underscores Rabat’s push to cement US backing for its claim over Western Sahara.
Morocco will name a 1,055-kilometer highway linking Tiznit to Dakhla in Western Sahara after US President Donald J. Trump, according to a letter from King Mohammed VI reported by state news agency MAP. The king described the move as a personal gesture of appreciation for Trump’s 2020 decision recognizing Moroccan rule over the disputed territory. Western Sahara, a resource-rich former Spanish colony, has been contested since 1975 between Morocco and an Algerian-backed independence movement. The United Nations still lists it as a non-self-governing territory. Trump’s recognition came as Morocco restored ties with Israel near the end of his first term.