Algeria President Calls for Death Penalty for Deliberate Forest Fires

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has called for the death penalty for anyone convicted of deliberately starting forest fires, following devastating wildfires that killed at least 12 people and injured 54 others in the country’s northeast.

Tebboune directed the Minister of Justice on Sunday to submit a proposal by September 15 to amend the country’s penal code and introduce capital punishment for people found guilty of intentionally setting forest fires.

The decision comes as authorities investigate the possibility that some of the recent fires may have been deliberately started.

Tebboune also instructed provincial governors to provide security agencies with all available information about the fires. He said videos showed several fires breaking out at around the same time, raising concerns about possible coordinated arson.

“We saw videos and noticed that a number of fires broke out at the same time, at around 1am, which raises many questions,” the president said.

The wildfires affected several provinces, including Jijel, Bejaia and Tizi Ouzou. The government declared three days of national mourning for the victims.

Algeria’s penal code already provides for the death penalty for several offences, although the country has not carried out an execution since 1993. Currently, deliberately starting forest fires can result in up to 30 years in prison, with life imprisonment possible in certain cases.

Tebboune has also ordered the government to compensate families affected by the fires and establish committees to assess the damage and determine compensation for destroyed or damaged property.

Authorities were instructed to restore electricity, gas, water and telecommunications services in affected areas by Saturday at the latest. Housing officials were also directed to repair damaged homes.

The president said he expected normal life to return to the affected communities within a week.

Meanwhile, the wildfire situation remains serious. Authorities reported that at least 46 fires were still burning across Algeria, while 193 fires had been recorded nationwide within a 24-hour period.

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