Macron Addresses Rif War Chemical Weapons Reparations Request from Amazigh Leader

"The President of the Republic has received the correspondence in which you request, on behalf of the heirs of the victims of the Rif War (1921-1926), the reparation of the damages suffered in the context of the use of chemical weapons against the civilian population. The Head of State has entrusted me with the task of assuring you of the utmost attention with which your letter and the concerns that motivate your approach have been taken into account," wrote Chief Commissioner of the 1st Class, Jean Le Roch, of the Special Staff of the Presidency of the Republic.

Stressing that this is a delicate issue, he informed that it falls within the competence of the deputy minister to the Minister of the Armed Forces in charge of memory and veterans. Mr. Le Roch assures that Mr. Raha’s request will be carefully examined. "His services will not fail to directly inform you of the follow-up that may be given to it," he adds.

In a letter addressed to President Macron on the occasion of the 99th anniversary of the Battle of Anoual on July 21 last, the President of the World Amazigh Assembly drew his attention again to "the great unresolved prejudice inevitably involving the responsibility of the French Republic in the use of chemical weapons against the civilian populations of the Great Rif of Morocco during the Rif War of 1921-1927."

He recalled having twice questioned former President François Hollande in these terms: "I remind you that France found itself, at the beginning of the last century, responsible for a protectorate over Morocco, (the former Moroccan Sherifian Empire). By virtue of this protectorate, France was supposed to ensure the protection of Morocco within its authentic borders. However, this was followed by dismemberment, partition and a pseudo ’pacification’ by arms and blood.

"(...) The documents, archives and studies testify that, at first, France became an accomplice of Spain to which it sold massive chemical weapons of destruction before using them itself against the Riffians (population of northern Morocco), during the war of liberation led by President Mohamed Abdelkrim El Khattabi," he had deplored. Mr. Raha had indicated that the chemical war against the Great Rif is not only a violation of the most elementary rules of the law of war but moreover and even more serious, the heirs of the victims of yesterday continue to suffer today.