Which problems in the Spanish army contributed to the defeat at Annual?

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Spanish soldiers operate artillery cannons in a desert landscape near Melilla, with smoke billowing as a cannon fires during a 1930s battle. — Rif War Spanish artillery firing outside Melilla during the Rif War.

The defeat at Annual in 1921 was a catastrophic failure for the Spanish military, largely stemming from systemic internal weaknesses. According to the Expediente Picasso, a commission established to investigate the disaster, the Spanish colonial army suffered from several critical deficiencies:1

Leadership: The military suffered from negligible leadership, exemplified by General Fernández Silvestre’s ill-considered decision to abandon the frontline post of Annual.1
Troop Readiness: The army was plagued by poor morale and inadequate training.1
Logistics and Equipment: Frontline logistics were highly problematic, and the troops were hindered by shoddy equipment.1
General State: Overall, the colonial army was described as being in a pitiable state, which contributed to the panic and general disorder that occurred during the retreat.1

These factors, combined with the hasty evacuation, allowed the Rif forces to overwhelm the Spanish positions, leading to a significant loss of territory and thousands of casualties.1