The Republic Of the Rif (full name The Confederal Republic of the Tribes of the Rif) was created in September 1921, by the people of the Rif, the Riffians, revolted and declared their independence from Spanish rule.

History

The Berbers fiercely resisted both Spanish and French incursions into the desert. 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 and leader, Muhammad al-Karim, was a strong leader of the Berbers in the Rif. al-Karim used his victory against the Spanish to try and create an independent state with a formal administration and military power structure. Having created this command and power structure, al-Karim drove the Spanish back to a few coastal outposts, then began to attack the French, to his south.

In late 1925, the French and Spanish created a joint task force of over five hundred thousand men, then attacked the new Confederal Republic, which collapsed in May of 1926.

Guerrilla elements of the army continued fighting until 1927.