Algeria is preparing to reinstate the death penalty for people convicted of deliberately setting forest fires following devastating wildfires that killed 12 people and injured more than 50 others.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has ordered changes to the country’s criminal code, with the justice minister instructed to prepare the amendment by September 15, 2026. Algeria has maintained a moratorium on capital punishment since 1993.
Deadly Wildfires Prompt Legal Changes
The proposed amendment would introduce capital punishment for individuals convicted of deliberately starting forest fires. However, authorities would only carry out the sentence after defendants exhaust all legal avenues of appeal, according to Algerian state television.
Meanwhile, six of the more than 50 injured people remain in critical condition. Authorities have also reported around 46 active wildfires as Algeria observes three days of mourning following what officials described as a “great tragedy.”
The fires have mainly affected northeastern parts of the country. Jijel province recorded five deaths, while Béjaïa reported four and Tizi Ouzou recorded three fatalities.
Emergency Response Intensifies Across Algeria
The scale of the disaster has triggered a major emergency response from Algeria’s Civil Protection agency. Officials recorded 193 fires across the country within a 24-hour period, with dozens still burning during the latest update.
Furthermore, authorities closed several roads after fires spread near Béjaïa, Jijel and Sétif. Residents in some affected communities also had to leave their homes as flames threatened populated areas.
The proposed legal change reflects the government’s tougher stance against deliberate forest fires. If approved, the amendment would mark a major shift in Algeria’s decades-long approach to capital punishment.
Officials are continuing firefighting operations while assessing damage and supporting affected communities. Authorities are also expected to investigate the causes of the fires and determine whether arson played a role in the latest outbreak.
