Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has directed the government to begin legal reforms that could bring back the death penalty for people found guilty of deliberately setting forest fires.
The directive follows a deadly outbreak of wildfires across the country’s north-eastern regions, with at least 12 people reported dead and dozens more injured.
Tebboune instructed the Ministry of Justice to prepare amendments to the criminal code by September 15, specifically targeting individuals convicted of deliberately igniting fires in forested areas.
Although capital punishment remains part of Algeria’s criminal legislation for certain serious offences, authorities have not carried out an execution since 1993.
More than 100 fires have been reported across northern Algeria in recent days.
Most have since been brought under control, although emergency teams continued efforts to contain remaining outbreaks on Sunday.
The president has also raised concerns that some of the fires may have been deliberately started.
He called for thorough inquiries, citing the unusual scale and intensity of the blazes.
The current legal framework allows those convicted of intentionally causing forest fires to receive prison terms of up to 30 years, while aggravated circumstances can result in a life sentence.
The latest fires have devastated extensive areas, destroyed property and forced thousands of residents from their homes.
The outbreaks occurred during a severe heatwave affecting parts of North Africa, with Algeria and neighbouring Tunisia among the countries experiencing extreme temperatures.
The Algerian Press Service reported that 18 of the 19 fires recorded during a 24-hour period had been brought under control by Sunday afternoon.
Tebboune has ordered financial assistance for families affected by the disaster and instructed authorities to restore damaged houses and vital infrastructure.
He also called for a comprehensive assessment of the destruction, including the number of properties affected and the overall economic losses.
Forest fires are a recurring seasonal threat in Algeria, particularly during the hotter months.
However, rising temperatures and changing climate conditions are increasingly contributing to more intense and destructive wildfire seasons.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong