Algerian President Seeks Death Penalty for Arsonists After Wildfires Kill 12

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune ordered an amendment to the national penal code on Sunday, August 30, 2026, introducing the death penalty for individuals convicted of deliberately starting forest fires. According to state government announcements, the directive follows a destructive wave of wildfires that killed 12 people and injured 54 others in northeastern Algeria, with six of the injured listed in critical condition. Casualties were recorded across three provinces, including five deaths in Jijel province, four deaths in Bejaia province, and three deaths in Tizi Ouzou province.

## Legislative Timeline and Judicial Process

President Tebboune instructed the justice minister to submit the penal code amendment by September 15, 2026, for swift examination by the government and Parliament. State television reported that any capital sentence handed down under the prospective law would only be carried out after all legal avenues of appeal had been exhausted. Algeria has maintained a de facto moratorium on executions since 1993, although the death penalty remains formally inscribed in its criminal code for several serious offenses. Under current legal statutes, intentionally setting forest fires carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, or life imprisonment in aggravated cases.

President Tebboune expressed suspicion regarding the origins of the recent fires during a national address, stating, "It is not normal for fires to break out at one o'clock at night when the winds are calm. This is not normal." He emphasized suspected criminal activity as the primary driver behind the disaster, declaring, "We are reinstating the death sentence for arsonists." Following the disaster, Algeria declared three days of national mourning, while French President Emmanuel Macron offered official support to assist Algerian emergency services in battling the blazes.

## Verification Gaps and Legal Scope

Specific text regarding the proposed penal code amendment has not yet been publicly released by the Ministry of Justice. The precise timeline for parliamentary debate, voting, and formal implementation of the new statute remains unconfirmed by parliamentary authorities. Furthermore, the exact number of individuals arrested by law enforcement on suspicion of arson has not been consistently detailed across official reports.

## Historical Wildfire Precedent

Algeria has a documented history of severe seasonal wildfires resulting in significant casualties. Previous wildfire seasons caused over 90 deaths in the Kabylie region in 2021, 37 deaths in El Tarf province in 2022, and 34 deaths across northeastern Algeria in 2023. The Ministry of Justice is scheduled to submit the formal draft amendment to Parliament ahead of the September 15 legislative review.