Republic of the Rif

The independence of the Rif was proclaimed on 18 September 1921 and was formally constituted 1 February 1923, with Abd el-Krim as head of state. Its prime minister, from July 1923 to 27 May 1926, was Ben Hajj Hatmi and General Driss Riffi Temsamani was named Basha or Governor of the Rif. It was dissolved by Spanish and French occupation forces on 27 May 1926, after the long and bloody battles of the Rif War in which German-designed chemical weapons were used against the Berber populations by Spanish and French occupation forces.

Despite the Berbers resisting Spanish and French incursions into Morocco, they were unable to consolidate power, and repeatedly returned to ethnic fighting and tribal division. The revolt following the 1912 Treaty of Fez ended in failure because the tribal alliances against French rule disintegrated within months.

A one riffan note. Produced by Captain Charles Gardiner, an English arms smuggler.

Five riffan note. The notes make prominent use of the English language.

Muhammad Ibn 'Abd al-Karim al-Khattabi, previously a court judge, became the leader of the Berbers in the Rif. Having created a command and power structure, Abd el-Krim defeated the Spanish many times and drove them back to a few coastal outposts. He wanted to create a stable state for the Berbers to shield them from the long years of fighting. Abd el-Krim sent diplomatic representatives to London and Paris to try to establish diplomatic relations with Europe.

In late 1925, the French and Spanish created a joint task force of half a million men supported by tanks and aircraft.[4] From 1923 onwards, the Spanish used German-designed chemical weapons.[5] The Rif Republic collapsed in May 1926, but Rif guerrillas continued to fight until 1927.

• Rif War (1920)
• Chemical weapons in the Rif War