The Rif War 1893

Muslim Berbers called the Rif (Riff), who inhabited the er-Rif region in northern Morocco, menaced the Spanish possessions there along the Mediterranean coast. When Morocco's sultan failed to check the Rif, Spain fortified its Melilla enclave, which was soon besieged by Rif tribesmen. The attack plus the killing of Melilla's military commander caused a severe public outcry in Spain, and in November 1893, a 25,000-man force was sent to Melilla and eventually drove the Rif back. By the Treaty of Fez (1894) the sultan agreed to pay Spain a war indemnity of 20 million pesetas and to punish the Rif. In addition, Spain could proceed with its fortification of Melilla, where a buffer zone was established between it and Morocco.

References

Dictionary of Wars, 392.

Category

TBD

Region

TBD

State(s)

TBD

Belligerents

TBD

Dispute

TBD

Initiation Date

TBD

Termination Date

TBD

Duration

TBD

Outcome

TBD

Fatalities

TBD

Magnitude

TBD