Algerian president seeks to impose death penalty on arsonists

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune is seeking to reinstate the death penalty for arsonists following deadly wildfires that have ravaged parts of the country.

Tebboune declared three days of national mourning on Thursday after wildfires in the northeast of the country killed at least 12 people and injured dozens more.

In a statement, Tebboune described the loss of life as "a great tragedy," as officials maintained the official death toll from Wednesday.

Algeria has observed a moratorium on the death penalty since 1993, but the Algerian head of state has ordered that "an amendment to the Criminal Code" be made by 15 September.

12 people died, 54 in hospital

Interior Minister Saïd Sayoud confirmed five fatalities in Jijel province, four in Béjaïa, and three in Tizi Ouzou following the outbreak of the fires. He added that 54 people were receiving hospital treatment for burns, six of whom remain in critical condition.

Algeria’s civil protection agency reported on Thursday morning that 46 fires remained active out of 193 recorded over the previous 24 hours. Unverified videos shared online overnight depicted sweeping blazes trapping residents in their homes.

The national gendarmerie announced that three major highways linking eastern regions were closed due to forest fires raging near Béjaïa, Jijel and Sétif.

While summer forest fires occur regularly in northern Algeria, more frequent droughts and extreme heat have been adding to their intensity. In July 2023, fires swept through thousands of hectares of forest and farmland near Béjaïa, destroying hundreds of homes and leaving more than 30 people dead. Authorities recorded nearly 2,000 fires nationwide in July this year alone.