Yuba El-Ghadioui Leads the Call for Justice, Linking Algeria’s Revolutionary Spirit with the Rif’s Historic Fight for Freedom and Against Moroccan Hegemony

Rif Republic: A Symbol of Resistance and Betrayal
Yuba El-Ghadioui, President of the National Rif Party, delivered a resolute and uncompromising address, highlighting Algeria’s pivotal role as a bastion of liberation and revolutionary movements. He described Algeria as the “capital of freedom fighters” and praised its historic and moral stance in supporting oppressed peoples worldwide.

During the conference, El-Ghadioui traced the historical trajectory of the Republic of the Rif, asserting its rightful place as the first independent republic in North Africa, established under the leadership of Mohamed Ben Abdelkrim El-Khattabi in 1921. “From 1921 to 1926, the Republic of the Rif was an independent political entity, a beacon of self-determination before being crushed by international conspiracies and colonial complicity,” he stated.

The conference explored the political and historical circumstances surrounding the downfall of the Republic of the Rif. El-Ghadioui emphasized that the Rif Republic was not defeated by chance but by a calculated scheme of colonial aggression and internal betrayal. “The French and Spanish colonial powers, aided by internal collaborators, systematically dismantled the Republic, forcing its people under the yoke of colonial domination and later into the grip of the Moroccan monarchy,” he declared.

Moroccan Subjugation: A Manufactured Legacy
El-Ghadioui accused the Moroccan monarchy of perpetuating colonialist agendas rather than championing freedom. He sharply criticized the 1912 Treaty of Fez, which formalized French colonial control over Morocco while ensuring the Alaouite dynasty’s survival as a subservient regime. “How can the Rif acknowledge the sovereignty of a regime created by colonialism to safeguard foreign interests?” he asked, adding, “The Alaouite monarchy has always aligned itself against freedom fighters, from the Rif to the Western Sahara.”

The National Rif Party leader spared no criticism for Morocco’s post-independence governance, dismissing the so-called Moroccan independence of 1956 as a continuation of colonial domination in disguise. He lambasted the Moroccan regime’s violent repression of the Rifian people and accused it of serving external powers at the expense of its own population.

Reclaiming Sovereignty: A Right, Not a Demand
El-Ghadioui made it unequivocally clear that the Rif movement is not seeking secession from Morocco, stating, “Secession implies that the Rif was ever a legitimate part of this colonial construct called Morocco, which it never was.” Instead, he emphasized that the Rif movement aims to restore its stolen sovereignty, a right firmly rooted in historical legitimacy and international law.

He underscored that the Rif Republic’s struggle is not a modern creation but a continuation of a century-old quest for freedom. “The Rif Republic’s independence is not a new demand; it is the restoration of a right violently taken by foreign powers and their collaborators,” he asserted.

El-Ghadioui also announced plans to internationalize the Rif cause, stating that the party will pursue legal and diplomatic channels to include the Rif issue under the UN and African Union’s decolonization mandates. He called on the international community to act against the “ongoing systemic genocide” of Rifian people.

Algeria’s Role: A Platform for Justice
Highlighting Algeria’s historical solidarity with liberation movements, El-Ghadioui expressed profound gratitude for hosting the Rif conference. He referred to Algeria as the “second homeland of the Rifian people” and reiterated the importance of its revolutionary legacy in inspiring oppressed nations. “Algeria has always stood with the oppressed, and today, it serves as a launching pad for our struggle to restore the dignity and sovereignty of the Rif,” he said.

The conference drew participation from prominent figures, including representatives from South Africa, Mozambique, and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, alongside Algerian political parties and lawmakers. These alliances underscore the growing recognition of the Rif struggle as part of a broader fight against neo-colonialism and regional oppression.

A Vision for Freedom
El-Ghadioui concluded with a vision of hope, vowing to continue the fight for Rif independence. “We will walk upon the sacred soil of the Rif when it is freed from the shackles of the Alaouite monarchy, just as our forefathers did over a century ago,” he proclaimed. His words resonated as a clarion call for unity and resilience among the Rifian diaspora and supporters worldwide.

The Republic of the Rif’s legacy is a powerful testament to the enduring fight for freedom and self-determination. As the Rifian struggle gains momentum, the Algiers conference signals a pivotal moment in the global push to address historical injustices and dismantle the remnants of colonial oppression.