Algerians battle deadly wildfires as Tebboune seeks death penalty for arson
Civil Protection units and army squadrons are battling fires across several provinces as officials report 12 deaths in Jijel and a death penalty review.
- On Thursday, August 27, 2026, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune declared the Jijel region a "disaster area" and mandated three days of national mourning following unprecedented wildfires sweeping across Algeria.
- The blazes destroyed 1,200 square kilometers of forests, leaving thousands of livestock dead and devastating mountain villages like Ouled Riyah in the country's worst environmental catastrophe.
- Rejecting "conspiracy theories," Tebboune alleged "criminal hands" were responsible and announced lifting the death penalty moratorium, declaring those guilty of arson "will be sentenced to death."
- While Islamist parties support the decision, democratic and human rights groups strongly oppose it, calling the policy "a retreat by Algeria into barbarism."
- Scientists warn climate change is intensifying fire frequency and severity, though official reports cite 12 deaths; Lt. Djabri Said told The Associated Press "there are hundreds of dead.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Associated Press News
Algerians battle deadly wildfires as Tebboune seeks death penalty for arson
Algerian firefighters are battling unprecedented wildfires that have devastated the country. The fires have spread across several regions, with Jijel suffering the most damage.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune called for the death penalty for those found guilty of deliberately starting forest fires.
Algeria president seeks death penalty for arsonists after deadly forest fires
ALGIERS – Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has said he wants to reinstate the death penalty for arsonists, following a wave of deadly forest fires. The official death toll stands at 12, but independent news outlets believe the figure is much higher. The president ordered the justice ministry to introduce changes to the criminal law introducing […]
The firefighters were fighting an unprecedented wave of deadly and devastating forest fires in Algeria, which has led the president to call for the restoration of the death penalty for arsonists.
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