In brief
In a move that could restore the death penalty for serious crimes, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune wants arsonists to face capital punishment following a series of devastating forest fires that have killed at least twelve people in the north‑east region. The president ordered changes to the criminal code and set a 15 September deadline for the amendment. He has not ruled out foul play amid the high intensity of the fires and promised investigations. Compensation, repairs and rehabilitation measures are also being introduced for affected families. The move reflects growing concerns over climate‑change‑driven fire season intensity in Algeria.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has said he wants to reinstate the death penalty for arsonists, following a wave of forest fires that have killed at least 12 people.
The president ordered the justice ministry to introduce changes to the criminal law that would allow capital punishment for arsonists. Capital punishment is still listed in the penal code for some offences, but no execution has been carried out since 1993.
More than 100 wildfires have been recorded in recent days in the north‑east of the country, most of which have been extinguished.
On Saturday, Tebboune said he did not rule out foul play and promised that investigations would be carried out especially in view of the intensity of the fires.
He set a 15 September deadline for amendments that would provide for the death sentence for anyone convicted of intentionally starting a fire in forested areas.
Under the current law, deliberately starting forest fires is punishable by up to 30 years in prison, or life imprisonment in certain cases.
Deadly blazes swept through large swathes of northern Algeria last week, causing widespread destruction, injuring dozens and displacing thousands of people.
The fires erupted amid an intense heatwave in northern Africa, with Algeria and Tunisia particularly affected.
Algerian civil authorities were still battling some of the fires, with the Algerian Press Service noting that 18 of 19 fires that had broken out in the previous 24 hours had been extinguished.
The president ordered that compensation be paid to the families who have been affected, as well as repairs to damaged homes and essential services.
He said there would be investigations into the extent of the damage and losses caused by the fires.
While Algeria regularly experiences forest fires around the summer months, climate change has exacerbated the intensity and severity of recent wildfires in the country.
