Algerian President Seeks Death Penalty for Arson After Deadly Wildfires

Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has demanded the death penalty for individuals convicted of intentionally starting forest fires, following a wave of devastating wildfires in the country's northeast that left at least 12 people dead.

According to state media, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune directed Algeria’s justice minister to draft a proposal by September 15 to amend the penal code, introducing capital punishment for intentional arson. Currently, the Algerian penal code permits sentences of up to 30 years or life imprisonment for deliberately setting forest fires, and while capital punishment remains legally applicable for several crimes, Algeria has maintained a de facto moratorium on executions since 1993.

During a security review, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune instructed provincial governors to transfer all relevant documentation regarding the blazes to security authorities, highlighting suspicious patterns. "We saw videos and noticed that a number of fires broke out at the same time, at around 1am, which raises many questions," he noted.

The announcement follows a three-day period of national mourning observed across Algeria to honor the 12 victims who lost their lives in the provinces of Jijel, Bejaia, and Tizi Ouzou, alongside at least 54 others who sustained injuries.

In response to the crisis, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune mandated that authorities provide financial compensation to affected families and establish dedicated committees to evaluate property damage. Officials were further instructed to fully restore essential utilities—including electricity, gas, water, and telecommunications—in the impacted zones by Saturday, while housing authorities were tasked with organizing home repairs.

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune emphasized that normalcy must be restored to the affected communities within a week, as emergency responders continue battling at least 46 active blazes out of 193 fires recorded nationwide over a 24-hour period.