Republic of the Rif
The Republic of the Rif (full name: The Confederal Republic of the Tribes of the Rif), (Amazigh: Tagduda n Arif, Arabic: جمهورية
الريف) was created in September 1921, when the people of the Rif (the Riffians) revolted and declared their independence from Spanish
Morocco.
Its capital city was Ajdir, its currency the Rif Republic Riffan, its national holiday Independence Day was held on 18 September, and its total population an estimated 150,000 people. The independence of Rif was proclaimed on 18 September 1921, with Abd el-Krim as its Amir ar-Rif. The Republic of the Rif was formally constituted 1 February 1923, with Abd el-Krim as head of state ("Ra'is ad-Dawla"). Its prime minister, from July 1923 to 27 May 1926, was ben Hajj Hatmi. It was dissolved by Spanish and French forces on 27 May 1926
History
The Berbers fiercely resisted both Spanish and French incursions into Morocco. However, the Berbers had been unable to consolidate power, and had continually returned to ethnic fighting and tribal division. The Great Revolt of 1912 against French rule was a complete failure due to the fact that any tribal alliances created during the Great Revolt came apart within months.
A single tribal warlord, Muhammad Abd el-Krim, became the leader of the Berbers in the Rif. Having created this command and power structure, Abd el-Krim drove the Spanish back to a few coastal outposts, then began to attack the French, to his south in an attempt to create an independent state with a formal administration and military power structure.
In late 1925, the French and Spanish created a joint task force of over 500,000 hundred thousand men with hundreds of tanks and aircrafts.[citation needed] They attacked the new Republic territories using massive bombing some of which were German-made chemical weapons used by the Spanish army. The Rif Republic collapsed in May of 1926.
The French intellectual groups denounced the imperialism of the French ruling classes. They associated the army and the notion of 'patrie' with the bourgeoise ruling groups.
Guerrilla elements of the army continued fighting until 1927.
External links
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