Abdelkrim Al-Khattabi (1882–1963) was a Moroccan political and military leader who became one of the most important symbols of resistance against colonialism in North Africa. He was born in Ajdir, in the Rif region of northern Morocco, into a respected Amazigh family.
In the early 1920s, Al-Khattabi united the Rif tribes and organized them to resist Spanish and French colonial expansion. He is best known for leading the Rif War (1921–1926), during which his forces achieved a historic victory at the Battle of Annual (1921), defeating the Spanish army and shocking European powers.
In 1923, he declared the Republic of the Rif, aiming to establish a modern and independent state based on justice, education, and unity. However, in 1926, after a brutal joint military campaign by Spain and France, which included the use of chemical weapons, the Rif Republic was defeated. Abdelkrim was forced to surrender and was later exiled to Réunion Island and then to Egypt, where he continued to support liberation movements across the Arab and African world.
Abdelkrim Al-Khattabi is remembered as a symbol of freedom, resistance, and dignity. His struggle inspired many anti-colonial movements and leaders around the world, making him a true hero of Moroccan and global history.
