Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has called for the reinstatement of the death penalty for arsonists following deadly forest fires that killed at least 12 people, according to the BBC. The president ordered the justice ministry to introduce changes to the criminal law introducing capital punishment for arsonists.

Forest Fires Ravage Northern Algeria

More than 100 wildfires have been recorded in recent days in the north-east of the country, most of which have been extinguished; Deadly blazes swept through large swathes of northern Algeria last week, causing widespread destruction, injuring dozens and displacing thousands of people.

Deadline for Legal Reforms

On Sunday, Tebboune gave a 15 September deadline for amendments to provide for the death sentence for anyone convicted of intentionally starting a fire in forested areas. Under the current law, deliberately starting forest fires is punishable by up to 30 years in prison, or life imprisonment in certain cases.

The president said he did not rule out foul play; he also said necessary investigations would be carried out especially in view of the intensity of the fires. On Saturday, Tebboune made this clear statement, emphasizing the need for thorough investigations.

Climate Change and Wildfires

The fires erupted amid an intense heatwave in northern Africa, with Algeria and Tunisia particularly affected; the Algerian president ordered that compensation be paid to the families who have been affected, as well as repairs to damaged homes and essential services.

Algerian civil authorities were on Sunday afternoon still battling to put out some of the fires, with the Algerian Press Service noting that 18 out of 19 fires that had broken out in the previous 24 hours had been extinguished. He said there would be investigations into the extent of the damage and losses caused by the fires.

While Algeria regularly experiences forest fires around the summer months, climate change has exacerbated the intensity and severity of recent wildfires in the country; Capital punishment remains in the country’s penal code for some offences, but no execution has been carried out since 1993.