The Guerre of the Rif is a colonial Guerre which opposed the Riffian tribes (Rif is an assembly line of the north of the Morocco) to the armies French and Spanish, acting under the terms of the agreements of Protectorat make with the Sultan of Morocco.

The Rifains were directed by chiefs of village republics also called Amghar, the common law being distinct from the religious right.

The July 20th 1921, the Spanish army comes to subdue rebels, but it is beaten and thus the ambitious project of Abdelkrim El Khattabi known under the name of Abd el-Krim launches out. Indeed, how can one conceive that humble mountain peasants, the Riffian ones, half-compartments as they were to it Moroccan large body of which they formed only one negligible part besides, could endanger the combined presence of two European powers, Spain and France. The Sylvestre general then has a powerful strong army of 60.000 Spanish soldiers to counter Beni Ouriaghel. In June almost the totality of this army finds death in the battle of Anoual. Vis-a-vis this disaster the general commits suicide. Abdelkrim El Khattabi brings together the tribal chiefs and they reject the Moroccan royal authority by the creation of the République confederated of the tribes of Rif on February 1st, 1922. Abd-el Krim becomes president of the republic.

A war follows against the Spaniards, who must withdraw themselves on the coast, and do not occupy any more in 1924 but Ceuta, Melilla, Asilah and Larache. France intervenes to assist from the Spaniards, and to avoid the contagion in Morocco. Advanced stations are installed by the French Army, which causes the confrontation with the Riffian troops, which are made crush by the French troops at the time of their offensive towards Fès during the winter and the spring of 1924.

The general Lyautey obtains the victory. The commander Naulin succeeds in overcoming the Riffian ones.

The autumn 1925, negotiations fail because of the requirements of the Rifains nationalists. The Franco-Spanish troops push back the Riffian ones.

Abd el-Krim is sent in exile to the island of the Meeting from where he escapes 20 years later, towards Egypt, where he dies in 1963.

It is it should be noted that Abd el-Krim complains with the Société about the Nations about the use by the French aviation of chemical bombs.

See too

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