Muhammad Abd al-Karim al-Khattabi and the Algerian Revolution

Abstract

Mohammed Abdelkrim El-Khattabi is regarded as one of the most prominent symbols of resistance in the Arab and Islamic world during the twentieth century. He led the Rif Revolution in Morocco (1921–1926) against Spanish and French colonialism, becoming a symbol of struggle and national liberation in North Africa.

After his exile to Egypt in 1947, El-Khattabi continued his political activity by supporting Maghreb liberation movements, especially the Algerian Revolution (1954–1962). In Cairo, he established the Committee for the Liberation of the Maghreb, which aimed to unite the efforts of national movements in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia against French colonial rule.

El-Khattabi provided political, moral, and military support to the Algerian Revolution. He helped in recruiting and training freedom fighters and in facilitating the supply of weapons and logistical aid. Moreover, he used his international connections to raise awareness of the Algerian cause in Arab and global forums.

The Algerians viewed El-Khattabi as a symbol of Maghreb unity and resistance, and the leaders of the National Liberation Front (FLN) appreciated his efforts in linking the Algerian Revolution with the broader liberation movement across North Africa.

Thus, El-Khattabi served as a vital bridge between Maghreb revolutions, and through his thought and experience, he inspired Algerian leaders to continue their struggle against colonialism until achieving independence in 1962.