Algeria’s President Tebboune Moves to Reinstate Death Penalty for Arsonists Amid Deadly Wildfires

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has directed the justice ministry to amend criminal laws to impose the death penalty on individuals found guilty of deliberately igniting forest fires, following a series of devastating wildfires that have claimed at least 12 lives.

The president has mandated legal reforms to introduce capital punishment for arsonists targeting forested areas, with a deadline set for September 15 to implement these amendments. While capital punishment remains part of Algeria’s penal code for certain crimes, no executions have been carried out since 1993.

Over 100 wildfires have erupted in northeastern Algeria in recent days, with authorities managing to contain most of the blazes. On Saturday, President Tebboune indicated that foul play is under consideration, citing the unprecedented intensity of the fires as a cause for concern. He emphasized that comprehensive investigations will be conducted to determine the origins and causes of the incidents.

Currently, deliberately starting forest fires carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, extendable to life imprisonment in specific cases. The recent wildfires have wreaked havoc across northern Algeria, destroying vast areas, injuring dozens of people, and displacing thousands. The fires occurred during an intensified heatwave affecting northern Africa, with both Algeria and Tunisia experiencing extreme temperatures.

By Sunday afternoon, Algerian civil authorities were still working to extinguish remaining fires. According to the Algerian Press Service, 18 out of 19 fires that broke out in the preceding 24 hours had been successfully brought under control. President Tebboune has also ordered compensation for affected families and directed efforts to repair damaged homes and restore essential services. Investigations into the full scope of damage and losses caused by the fires are underway.

Although forest fires are common in Algeria during summer months, climate change has significantly increased the frequency, intensity, and severity of these incidents in recent years.

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