page_title: Berber separatism in North Africa
section_title: 2013-present Berber protests
hierarchical_section_title: Berber separatism in North Africa / Timeline / Rif Conflict in independent Morocco / 2013-present Berber protests
caption_attribution_description: الدارجة: مظاهرة كبيرة د الحراك فالليل فالحسيمة
context_page_description: Berber separatism in North Africa refers to a century-long independence struggle of ethnic Berber groups in the areas of modern Morocco, Algeria, Mali and Libya. The first chapter of this modern separatism was embodied in the Rif War, which led to the creation of short-lived Rif Republic.
  French colonists often exploited and instrumentalized these tensions in their experience in North Africa to divide and conquer.
  Despite the disintegration of this Berber state, the independence movement continued during the 20th century in Algeria and in the 21st century was led by Tuareg tribes in Mali and Libya, and last resurging in Morocco in 2013, escalating into a Berber protest movement in 2016–17.
context_section_description: Since 2013 the Rif Independence Movement resurged in Morocco. Rif Independence Movement is a charter member of the Organization of Emerging African States.
  Since late 2016, massive riots have spread across Moroccan Berber communities in the Rif region, initiated after a death of a fishmonger in Al-Hoceima in October 2016. On 31 October, massive demonstrations took place across Morocco, staged by the Berber minority. During January and February 2017, the riots intensified and were marked by unemployment concerns, with around thirty police officers injured in the north Moroccan town of al-Hoceima, after tear gas and rubber bullets were deployed against thousands of mostly young protesters.
  Another escalation took place in May 2017. The protests were led by Nasser Zefzafi, founder of the Al-Hirak al-Shaabi, or the Popular Movement. Zefzafi was arrested by Moroccan Police in late May 2017. Thousands took to the streets in Al-Hoceima since Zefzafi’s arrest, and demonstrations have also spread to the capital Rabat and Casablanca. Demonstrators proclaimed “We are all Zefzafi” and waved Berber flags, with around 40 people arrested. By 30 May, the number of arrested protesters reached 70.
caption: Rif Hirak protests May 5, 2017 in the Rif region of Morocco
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