President Abdelmadjid Tebboune ordered the re-introduction of the death penalty for individuals who deliberately set forest fires [1, 2].
The move signals a drastic escalation in how the Algerian government handles environmental crimes. By treating arson as a capital offense, the administration aims to deter future attacks that threaten national security and public safety.
The order follows a wave of wildfires that struck several eastern provinces earlier this month [3, 4]. Government records indicate that 100 wildfires were recorded during this period [5]. The fires resulted in 12 deaths and left more than 50 people injured [1, 6].
Algerian officials said the recent devastation was linked to intentional acts of arson. The government said the severity of the death penalty is necessary to prevent similar tragedies as the region faces increasing vulnerability to fire.
While the president has ordered the move, the legislative process to restore the penalty for these specific crimes must now proceed. The administration has not yet detailed the specific legal framework for how these sentences will be carried out, though the focus remains on those who deliberately ignite blazes.
The eastern provinces have been the primary site of the recent devastation. Emergency services worked to contain the 100 fires [5] that swept through the forests, causing significant loss of life and habitat [1, 3].
“President Abdelmadjid Tebboune ordered the re-introduction of the death penalty for individuals who deliberately set forest fires.”
The push to reinstate capital punishment for arson reflects a shift toward 'zero tolerance' environmental policy in Algeria. By elevating forest fires to a capital crime, the state is framing deliberate arson not merely as property damage or local crime, but as a threat to the state's ecological and human stability.
