Republic of the Rif

Republic of the Rif
جمهورية الريف (Arabic)
1921–1926
Flag of Republic of Morocco Republic of the Rif
Flag
Coat of arms of Republic of Morocco Republic of the Rif
Coat of arms
Anthem: National Anthem of the Republic of the Rif
Territory of Spanish Morocco under control of the Rif Republic.
Territory of Spanish Morocco under control of the Rif Republic.
CapitalAjdir
Official languagesArabic[1]
Common languagesJebli Arabic, Tarifit
Religion
Sunni Islam
GovernmentConfederal presidential republic under a military dictatorship
President 
• 1921–1926
Abd el-Krim
Vice President 
• 1921–1926
Hajj Hatmi
Historical eraInterwar period
• Established
18 September 1921
• Rif War
8 June 1921
• Disestablished
27 May 1926
CurrencyRif Republic Riffan
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Spanish protectorate in Morocco
Spanish protectorate in Morocco
Today part ofMorocco

The Republic of the Rif (Arabic: جمهورية الريف Jumhūriyyatu r-Rīf) was a confederate republic in the Rif, Morocco, that existed between 1921 and 1926. It was created in September 1921, when a coalition of Rifians and Jebala led by Abd el-Krim revolted in the Rif War against the Spanish protectorate in Morocco. The French would intervene on the side of Spain in the later stages of the conflict. A protracted struggle for independence killed many Rifians and Spanish–French soldiers, and witnessed the use of chemical weapons by the Spanish army—their first widespread deployment since the end of the World War I. The eventual Spanish–French victory was owed to the technological and manpower advantages despite their lack of morale and coherence. Following the war's end, the Republic was ultimately dissolved in 1926.[2][3][4]

  1. ^ Engle, Shirley H. (1964). New Perspectives in World History. National Council for the Social Studies. p. 439. Indeed, Abdelkrim, recognizing the inherent weakness of the short-lived Berber nation, sought to bolster his strength by making Arabic the language of his government, and evolving Arab administrative arrangements and rules of procedure.
  2. ^ Day, Richard B.; Gaido, Daniel (2011-11-25). Discovering Imperialism: Social Democracy to World War I. BRILL. p. 549. ISBN 978-9004201569. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  3. ^ Wyrtzen, Jonathan (2016-02-19). Making Morocco: Colonial Intervention and the Politics of Identity. Cornell University Press. p. 183. ISBN 9781501704246. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  4. ^ Hall, John G.; Publishing, Chelsea House (2002). North Africa. Infobase Publishing. p. 62. ISBN 9780791057469. Retrieved 14 September 2016.