Tarifit language in the context of "Riffian language"

Melilla (/mɛˈliːjə/, Spanish: [meˈliʝa] ; Tarifit: Mřič) is an autonomous city of Spain on the North African coast. It lies on the eastern side of the Cape Three Forks, bordering Morocco and facing the Mediterranean Sea. It has an area of 12.3 km (4.7 sq mi). It was part of the Province of Málaga until 14 March 1995, when the Statute of Autonomy of Melilla was passed.

Melilla is one of the special territories of the member states of the European Union. Movements to and from the rest of the EU and Melilla are subject to specific rules, provided for inter alia in the Accession Agreement of Spain to the Schengen Convention.

Riffians or Rifians (Arabic: الريفيون; Tarifit: Irifiyen) are a Berber ethnic group originally from the Rif region of northeastern Morocco. Communities of Riffian immigrants are also found in southern Spain, Netherlands and Belgium as well as elsewhere in Western Europe. They are overwhelmingly Sunni Muslims and speak Tarifit and Moroccan Arabic.

The Rif War (Tarifit: ⴰⵎⴻⵏⵖⵉ ⵏ ⴰⵔⵉⴼ, romanized: Amenɣi n Arif, Arabic: حرب الريف, romanized: ḥarb ar-rīf, Spanish: Guerra del Rif, French: Guerre du Rif) was an armed conflict fought from 1921 to 1926 between Spain (joined by France in 1924) and Berber tribes of the mountainous Rif region of northern Morocco.

Led by Abd el-Krim, the Riffians at first inflicted several defeats on the Spanish forces by using guerrilla tactics and with the help of captured European weapons. After France's military intervention against Abd el-Krim's forces and a major landing of Spanish troops at Al Hoceima, considered the first amphibious landing in history to involve the use of tanks and aircraft, Abd el-Krim surrendered to French forces and was put into exile.