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On March 16 in Madrid, King Felipe VI of Spain acknowledged the «abuses and ethical controversies» associated with the colonization of South America. In response, Rachid Raha, president of the World Amazigh Assembly, called on the Spanish monarch to also address the «use of chemical weapons against civilian populations in northern Morocco during the Rif War», describing it as a painful chapter that remains insufficiently recognized.
In a letter, the NGO recalled Felipe VI’s reply to an earlier correspondence dated May 29, 2015, in which he expressed an «openness to a constructive and calm approach to this issue». However, it noted that, eleven years later, «no concrete and substantial follow-up has been given».
The World Amazigh Assembly also pointed to a recent parliamentary initiative, introduced by the Sumar party in December 2025, calling on Spain’s Congress of Deputies to explicitly recognize its colonial past in Morocco, promote historical research, and implement public memory policies.
«In light of these developments, we respectfully request your high consideration so that this issue is once again brought to the government’s attention for a thorough, transparent, and responsible review», Raha wrote.
It is worth noting that parliamentary initiatives led by far-left and Catalan groups seeking recognition of war crimes committed by the Spanish army, particularly the use of chemical weapons in the Rif, have so far been rejected by successive Spanish governments, whether led by the PSOE or the People's Party.
