Tebboune Orders Death Penalty for Arsonists After Deadly Wildfires

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has ordered the Ministry of Justice to amend the criminal law to reinstate the death penalty for individuals who deliberately start forest fires. The directive follows a wave of more than 100 wildfires in northeast Algeria that killed at least 12 people and left 54 others hospitalized for burns across the provinces of Jijel, Béjaïa, and Tizi Ouzou.

President Tebboune set a September 15 deadline for the legal amendments, citing evidence of foul play. He noted that videos showing multiple fires breaking out simultaneously at 1 a.m. raised questions about the intentional nature of the blazes. While capital punishment remains in the penal code for certain offenses, Algeria has observed a moratorium on executions since 1993.

The fires, fueled by an intense heatwave and climate change, displaced thousands and forced the closure of three major highways in regions including Sétif. In response, the president declared three days of national mourning and instructed provincial governors to provide security authorities with all available information. He further ordered the government to compensate affected families and restore essential utilities and damaged homes.