Algeria president seeks death penalty for arsonists after deadly forest fires

What the report says

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has said he wants the government to restore the death penalty for people convicted of deliberately starting forest fires, after a series of blazes killed at least 12 people. BBC Africa reported that the move comes as authorities responded to more than 100 wildfires recorded in recent days, mainly in the country’s north-east.

According to the report, Tebboune told officials not to rule out foul play and ordered the justice ministry to draft changes to the criminal law by 15 September. Under current Algerian law, arson in forested areas can already bring prison terms of up to 30 years, or life imprisonment in some cases. Capital punishment remains on the books for certain offences, but Algeria has not carried out an execution since 1993.

The fires broke out during a severe heatwave affecting parts of North Africa, with Algeria and Tunisia among the hardest hit. BBC Africa said the blazes caused widespread destruction, injured dozens and forced thousands of people from their homes. Civil authorities were still working to contain some fires, while most of the recent outbreaks had already been extinguished.

The president also ordered compensation for affected families, repairs to damaged homes and essential services, and further investigations into the scale of the damage. In general terms, climate change has been linked to more intense wildfire seasons across the region, although the BBC report noted Algeria is also accustomed to summer fires.