In brief
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced that the death penalty would be reinstated for arsonists after a surge of forest fires that killed 12 people and destroyed homes in northeast Algeria. He ordered the justice ministry to amend the criminal code, adding capital punishment for those who deliberately start forest fires, though no execution has taken place since 1993. More than 100 fires were recorded, and investigations will be launched to rule out foul play and measure damage, with a deadline of 15 September for the amendments.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced plans to reinstate capital punishment for arsonists after a wave of wildfires that killed at least 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes.
He issued an order to the justice ministry to revise the criminal code, adding the death penalty for those convicted of deliberately starting forest fires. Although the penalty remains in the country’s penal code, no execution has been carried out since 1993.
More than 100 fires erupted across northeastern Algeria in recent days, most of which were brought under control after intense heat waves and dry conditions. The government says investigations will be opened to rule out foul play and assess the damage extent.
Tebboune set a deadline of 15 September for the law amendments and announced compensation for affected families, repair of homes, and restoration of essential services.
While Algeria often faces summer forest fires, climate change is intensifying their frequency and severity, prompting the president’s harsh stance on arson.
By Basillioh Rukanga
