How did Miguel Primo de Rivera’s policy affect the Rif War?

Miguel Primo de Rivera’s policy significantly altered the trajectory of the Rif War through a strategic shift from overextended occupation to a more consolidated defense.

In September 1924, Primo de Rivera ordered the evacuation of thousands of Spanish troops from isolated positions in the western part of the protectorate to a fortified line south of Tetuán. While this retreat caused discontent among "Africanista" officers like Francisco Franco, it reflected a pragmatic recognition of the war's unsustainable human and financial costs.

However, this withdrawal created a power vacuum that Abd el-Krim quickly exploited, allowing him to control approximately three-fourths of the protectorate by early 1925. Ultimately, Primo de Rivera’s regime achieved a decisive turn in the conflict by collaborating with the French. This joint effort culminated in the landing at Alhucemas in September 1925, which led to the defeat of Abd el-Krim and the successful occupation of the entire protectorate by 1927.123