Algerian president seeks death penalty for arsonists after wildfires

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has ordered Algeria to move quickly toward restoring the death penalty for people involved in deliberately starting wildfires. He gave the Justice Ministry until September 15 to amend the Penal Code, with execution to follow only after all legal appeals have been exhausted.

Tebboune issued the order during a meeting at the presidency devoted to the consequences of recent fires in several provinces in eastern and central Algeria. He instructed the justice minister to submit the amendment to the government this week before sending it to the People’s National Assembly.

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Anyone who thinks the law will not be enforced must know that society and justice will hold them accountable.

The president said several people suspected of starting the fires had already been arrested. He questioned how fires could break out at the same time, including fires that began at 1 a.m. and spread rapidly despite a lack of wind. "It is abnormal for fires to break out at the same time," he said.

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It is abnormal for fires to break out at the same time.

Tebboune warned that anyone who believed the law would not be enforced would be held accountable by society and the justice system. He also said Algeria’s losses would not weaken the country, despite the deaths caused by the fires. "It is true that we are distressed by the loss of our fellow citizens, but this will not discourage us," he said.

The government is preparing a system to assess damage and compensate those affected. Tebboune ordered commissions to inventory losses and directed ministries to provide the resources needed for the evaluation. The Finance Ministry is working on the compensation mechanism, and the president pledged to reimburse victims for everything they lost, regardless of the type of loss.

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It is true that we are distressed by the loss of our fellow citizens, but this will not discourage us.