President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has announced plans to reinstate the death penalty for arsonists following a wave of deadly forest fires in northeast Algeria that have killed at least 12 people.
He ordered the justice ministry to amend the criminal code to include capital punishment for those who intentionally set large forest fires, a measure that has not been applied since 1993 even though the penalty remains in the penal code.
More than 100 wildfires were recorded in the region in recent days, most of which were extinguished by firefighters, but the intensity of the outbreaks prompted urgent legal review.
The president stated that investigations would be carried out, especially given the fierce heatwave that exacerbated the fires, and he hinted at the possibility of foul play.
He set a deadline of September 15 for the proposed amendments and also ordered compensation for families affected by the blazes, along with repair to damaged homes and essential services.
While Algeria typically experiences forest fires during the summer, climate change has increased the severity of such incidents, amplifying the need for stringent legal repercussions.
