1958 Rif riots

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Rif Revolt
Part of Rif Conflict
DateOctober 1958 – early 1959
Location
Rif region, northern Morocco
Caused by
  • Ill-governance.
Methods
StatusQuelled
Concessions
given
  • None.
Parties to the civil conflict
Morocco Government of Morocco
Protesters
Lead figures
Sellam Amezian
Casualties
Death(s)Hundreds killed
InjuriesNumerous

1958 Rif riots, also known as the Rif Revolt, took place in the northern Rif region of Morocco by tribes rebelling against the Moroccan regime, motivated by the region's marginalization. The revolt, led by Sellam Amezian, had a clear set of demands: greater political and social rights, the departure of foreign troops from the country, the return of the resistance leader Abd el-Krim from exile, the dissolution of political parties, the liberation of political prisoners, and the installation of a "people's government" (gouvernement populaire).[1]

Prince Hassan, who was then military chief of staff, promulgated a decree that put the Rif region in a state of emergency and led an army of 20,000–30,000 soldiers to contain the uprising. The soldiers were aided with air support from French pilots. Estimates around 2,000–8,000 inhabitants of the region were killed and thousands more injured. According to El-Khattabi, 8,420 were taken as political prisoners.[1]

Timeline[]

In October 1958, riots started in the Rif region,[2] as a result of marginalization of the region by the central authority. Sellam Amezian directed this movement. On 7 October 1958, the protesters issued a chart with a list of demands including "The immediate withdraw of all foreign forces from Morocco, and the return of Abd el-Krim and his family to the country".[3]

The events escalated quickly, and weapons started to be used by both the protesters and the army. The uprising was fiercely oppressed by the army, even using aircraft flown by French pilots. Hundreds were killed and thousands were arrested and wounded. Abd El-Karim estimated the number of detainees in the wake of the Rif uprising at 8,420.[4]

Aftermath[]

As a result, many left the Rif for Europe, returning to their ancestral towns only to build homes that they lived in during vacations or after retirement. This, along with the diversion of much of the region's arable land for cannabis planting, has decimated the local economy and environment.[citation needed]

See also[]

  • Hirak Rif

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Abouzzohour, Yasmina (2021). "How Do Liberalized Autocracies Repress Dissent? Evidence from Morocco". The Middle East Journal. 75 (2): 264–284. ISSN 1940-3461.
  2. ^ MOROCCO BATTLES MOUNTAIN REBELS; Mild Uprising in Rif Tribes Said to Be Led by Men of Outlawed Party – (New York Times – 1958)
  3. ^ Rif Uprising of 1958 – When Khattabi Asked for Abdel Nasser's Support – Yabiladi (2018) – In French
  4. ^ The death of Mohsen Fikri and the long history of oppression and protest in Morocco's Rif – Open Democracy (2016).

External links[]

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