Morocco names highway in Western Sahara after Donald Trump

• Morocco has named a new highway in the occupied Western Sahara after US President Donald Trump.
• The highway, named the President Donald J Trump Highway, is 1,055km long.
• It connects Tiznit in western Morocco with the city of Dakhla in the Western Sahara.
• Donald Trump expressed his gratitude for the honor via a message on Truth Social.
• The US agreed to accept Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara in 2020 in exchange for Morocco recognizing Israel.

Morocco has named a new highway in the occupied Western Sahara after US President Donald Trump, a move that elicited a message of gratitude from the US leader. The highway, officially designated the President Donald J Trump Highway, spans 1,055 kilometers and links Tiznit in western Morocco to Dakhla in the Western Sahara.

Trump shared his appreciation on Truth Social, posting a video highlighting the $1 billion investment in the road. He stated, "Thank you to Highly Respected Mohammed VI, the King of Morocco — Such a Great Honor! I look forward to traveling the entire length of this Great Highway someday, hopefully soon! President DONALD J. TRUMP."

The Western Sahara has been occupied by Morocco since 1975. The native Sahrawis, supported by the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, have long sought independence. Many Sahrawi refugees reside in camps in southwestern Algeria, while independence advocates within Western Sahara have reportedly faced repression from Moroccan authorities.

In 2020, the United States agreed to recognize Morocco's claim over the territory, a decision that was part of a broader agreement for Morocco to recognize the State of Israel. Construction on the highway commenced in 2015 and traverses nearly the entire length of Western Sahara, passing through its capital, Laayoune.

Despite limited international recognition of Morocco's claim to the region, often referred to as Africa's last colony, foreign investment in Western Sahara has seen a consistent increase. This development follows recent calls from rights groups and Sahrawi activists for a boycott of Christopher Nolan's film 'The Odyssey' due to parts being filmed in Western Sahara without the consent of the indigenous population.