Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has called for the reinstatement of the death penalty for those who intentionally start forest fires, following a series of blazes that have already claimed 12 lives.
Tebboune told reporters that more than 100 wildfires had erupted in the north‑east within the past week, many of them extinguishing after great effort by emergency services. The country’s criminal code still contains capital punishment for a handful of offenses, but the last execution took place in 1993.
“I do not rule out foul play,” Tebboune said on a televised address, urging forensic teams to probe the incendiary incident patterns. He announced that the justice ministry would introduce amendments by 15 September to embed the death sentence for anyone convicted of deliberately lighting a forest fire.
Under the existing law, deliberately setting forest fires leads to up to 30 years in prison, or life imprisonment in rare cases. Authorities have pledged compensation for families, repairs to houses damaged by the flames, and a review of public services affected by the outbreaks.
These fires attacked extensive stretches of northern Algeria during an intense heatwave that also ravaged neighboring Tunisia. Climate experts warn that rising temperatures and dryer vegetation make such disasters increasingly frequent and severe.
The aftermath of the fires has seen a surge of investigation into potential arson mechanisms and an urgent call to strengthen fire‑control laws.
