The Rif War was a colonial war between the Rif tribes (the Rif is a mountain range in northern Morocco) and the French and Spanish armies, acting under protectorate agreements with the Sultan of Morocco.
The Rifains were led by heads of village republics also called Amghar, customary law being distinct from religious law.
On July 20, 1921, the Spanish army comes to subdue the rebels, but it is beaten and this is how the ambitious project of Abdelkrim El Khattabi known as Abd el-Krim is launched. It brings together the tribal chiefs and they reject the Moroccan royal authority by creating the Confederate Republic of the Rif Tribes on February 1, 1922. Abd-el Krim becomes president of the republic.
A war followed against the Spaniards, who had to withdraw to the coast, and in 1924 only occupied Ceuta, Melilla, Asilah and Larache. France intervenes to come to the aid of the Spaniards, and avoid contagion in Morocco. Advanced posts are installed by the French army, which provokes the confrontation with the Rifian troops, who are crushed by the French troops during their offensive towards Fez during the winter and spring of 1924.
General Lyautey obtains the victory. Commander Naulin succeeds in bringing the Rifains to their knees.
In the fall of 1925, negotiations failed because of the demands of the Rifain nationalists. Franco-Spanish troops repel the Rifains.
Abd el-Krim was sent into exile on Reunion Island from where he escaped 20 years later, to Egypt, where he died in 1963.
It should be noted that Abd el-Krim complains to the League of Nations of the use by the French air force of chemical bombs.