Monday, August 31, 2026 - Algeria is moving toward tougher punishment for people convicted of deliberately starting forest fires after a devastating wave of wildfires killed 12 people.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has ordered the justice minister to prepare an amendment to the penal code by September 15 that would introduce the death penalty for intentional forest arson. The move comes as authorities respond to fires that have caused deaths, injuries and major disruption across several parts of the country.
The proposed measure signals a sharp escalation in Algeria's response to deliberate forest fires. Under the current law, intentionally setting forest fires can result in up to 30 years in prison, with life imprisonment possible in aggravated cases.
The government says any death sentence under the proposed amendment would only be carried out after all legal avenues of appeal have been exhausted.
The urgency is growing as Algeria faces increasingly dangerous wildfire conditions driven by extreme heat and dry conditions. The latest fires have already triggered a major national response, while authorities continue investigating suspected deliberate ignition.
If approved, the proposed law would put Algeria among the countries using the harshest possible criminal penalty against intentional forest arson, making the September 15 deadline a closely watched moment for the country and environmental authorities.
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