US President Donald Trump says he is getting a highway named after him in a disputed desert territory. Trump posted a video on Truth Social saying the Moroccan government is naming a 1,055-kilometer (660-mile) highway after him. That is one of the longest highways in Africa. It connects the cities of Dakhla and Tiznit, running along a stretch of the Atlantic coast that accounts for 7% of the continent's total coastline.
The project cost around $1 billion. Trump thanked King Mohammed VI of Morocco in his post and said he looks forward to driving the whole length someday. In the video, Trump stated that the road will be called the "President Donald J. Trump Highway" and that his "historic courage" along with the king's leadership have ushered in an era of peace and prosperity for the Moroccan Sahara.
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Since Spain withdrew from its colonial role in 1975, the Western Sahara region has been contested by Morocco and a pro-independence movement backed by Algeria. Morocco holds de facto control over most of the territory, and its sovereignty claim received Trump's backing in a 2020 arrangement that also prompted the kingdom to normalize relations with Israel.
Morocco has been pouring money into the region. The highway is part of that push. The project also includes a $1.3 billion deep-sea port under construction nearby, plus tourist resorts and green-energy installations. Last year, filmmaker Christopher Nolan shot scenes for *The Odyssey* in the Dakhla area, drawing criticism from the Polisario Front - an armed faction that says it represents the local Sahrawi population and demands a self-determination vote.
Trump's 2020 recognition of Morocco's claim over the territory helped spur an investment boom. Subsequently, France and Spain also endorsed Morocco's position, speeding up an investment surge that encompasses the road and harbor projects.
The Western Sahara conflict dates back to the 1970s when Spain left the territory. The United Nations has sponsored numerous rounds of talks between Morocco and the Polisario Front, but a final resolution remains elusive. Morocco's proposal offers broad autonomy, while the Polisario insists on a referendum that includes independence as an option. The road and port projects are part of Morocco's strategy to boost economic development and demonstrate its governance of the region.
For the Polisario Front, however, these infrastructure projects are seen as efforts to consolidate Moroccan authority while disregarding the territory's unsettled political situation. Trump's 2020 recognition remains a key factor in the shift of international support toward Morocco, though the United Nations still considers the territory disputed.
No official confirmation from Morocco has been issued regarding the naming, and a government representative did not reply to a query for comment.
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