| Rif Revolt |
|---|
|
| Date | October 1958 – early 1959 |
|---|
| Location | |
|---|
| Caused by | Marginalization and disenfranchisement of the Rif region |
|---|
| Status | Moroccan victory |
|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
~1,000 killed |
2,000-8,000 estimated killed
8,420 captured |
|
1958 Rif riots, Rif Revolt or Rif uprising (Tarifit: Assouggas N'Ouedhra, lit. 'Year of the Mountain') took place in the northern Rif region of Morocco by tribes rebelling against the Moroccan government, motivated by the region's marginalization. The revolt, led by Sellam Amezian, had a clear set of demands: 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). Despite their anti-government and anti-Istiqlal agenda, the protestors were still pro-monarchy.
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.