Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has called for the reinstatement of the death penalty for arsonists after a series of devastating forest fires that killed at least 12 people in north‑east Algeria.
The president directed the justice ministry to draft amendments that would introduce capital punishment for anyone convicted of intentionally setting a forest fire. Although the penal code still contains death‑penalty provisions, the country has not carried out an execution since 1993.
More than 100 wildfires have been documented in the past few days, many of which were extinguished by emergency crews. The intensity of the blazes, occurring during a record heatwave, has prompted local officials to consider the possibility of foul play.
By Sunday, President Tebboune had set a 15‑September deadline for the law‑making process that would enforce the death sentence for those found guilty of starting fires in forested areas. Under current statutes, arson could lead to a maximum of 30 years’ imprisonment, with life sentences in certain cases.
The fires displaced thousands of residents, destroyed homes, and strained local infrastructure. Compensation and repairs have already been ordered for affected families, while investigations into the extent of the damage are underway.
Experts link the increased severity of wildfires to climate‑change‑driven heatwaves, which Algeria and neighboring Tunisia have been especially hard‑hit by.
