Rif

The Rif, also called the Rif Mountains, is a geographic region in northern Morocco. It is bounded to the north by the Mediterranean Sea, to the west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by the Ouergha River, and to the east by the Moulouya River. The region is the homeland of the Riffians, the Senhaja de Srair, the Jebala, and the Ghomara.

Historically, the Rif was the heart of the Republic of the Rif, led by Abd el-Krim during the Rif War (1920–1927) against Spanish colonial forces. The mountains are divided into the eastern Rif (Nador, Driouch, Al Hoceima) and the western Rif (Tangier, Tétouan, Chefchaouen, Taounate). The western part is often called the Jebala, while the eastern part is referred to as the Rif proper.

Linguistically, the western Rif is predominantly Arabized, with Moroccan Arabic as the main language, though the Ghomara people retain their Ghomara Berber language. The eastern Rif is predominantly Berber, with Tarifit (Riffian) as the main language. In the central Rif (Ketama, Issaguen, Targuist), a Berber-speaking community of Senhaja de Srair exists.

Geography

The Rif Mountains are part of a big geological area called the Gibraltar Arc or the Alborán Sea. They stretch out from a mountain system in southern Europe called the Baetic System, which includes mountains in the Iberian Peninsula. This means the Rif Mountains are not linked to the Atlas Mountains.

Some big towns in the Rif area include Nador, Al Hoceima, Imzouren, Driouch, Ben Taieb, Midar, and Al Aaroui. Smaller towns include Segangan, Selwan, Ajdir, Targuist, Chefchaouen, Taounate, Tetouan, Ouezzane, Tangier, and Ksar El Kebir.

History

The Rif has been home to Berbers since ancient times. Around the 11th century BC, the Phoenicians started setting up trading spots and cities like Tetouan, Rusadir (now Melilla), and later Tingi, which is now Tangier.

After the Third Punic War, the area became part of the Kingdom of Mauretania under Rome. Later, the Byzantine Empire took control for a time. In 710, Salih I ibn Mansur created the Emirate of Nekor, and many Berbers turned to Islam. By the 15th century, many people who had been forced to leave Spain settled in the western Rif and brought their traditions, including Andalusian music, and founded the city of Chefchaouen.

The Rif saw many battles with Spain and Portugal. In 1415, Portugal invaded Ceuta, and in 1490 Spain conquered Melilla. Later, in 1859, the Hispano-Moroccan War began in Tetouan. In the 1920s, under leader Abd el-Krim, the Rif people fought against Spanish forces during the Rif War. Eventually, Spain left the area in 1956, and soon after, there were uprisings in the region that the Moroccan government worked to calm down.

Economy

Main article: Cannabis in Morocco

Farmers in the Rif grow most of the plants used for making a certain product in Morocco. The area has not developed much economically.

Environment

The Rif region in northern Morocco is known for its rich environment. It is home to some special animals, including a few remaining groups of the endangered Barbary macaque and a unique type of honey bee.

The area receives a lot of rain, more than anywhere else in Morocco, with some parts getting over 2,000 millimetres (80 inches) each year. This rain supports many forests, including trees like Atlas cedar, cork oak, and holm oak. Unfortunately, cutting down trees for farming and other uses has caused damage to the soil.

Tribes

The Riffians are made up of many different tribes and groups. Some of these tribes include the Gzenaya, Ait Waryaghar, Ait Amart, Ait Touzine, Ait Temsaman, Ait Ulishk, Ait Tafersit, Ait Said, Kebdana, Bokoya, Ait Itteft, and Ibdarsen.

Another group is called the Senhaja. The Northern Senhaja includes the Senhaja Srair and the Arabophone Senhaja. The Senhaja Srair tribe includes groups such as Zerqet, Ait Gmil, Ait Bunsar, Ait Khennus, Ait Seddath, Ait Ahmed, Ait Bshir, Ait Bushibet, Ait Berber, Taghzut, Ketama, Ait Mezduy, and Targuist.