Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has ordered the justice ministry to introduce the death penalty for fire-setters following deadly forest fires that killed at least 12 people.
In a directive on Sunday, Tebboune set a 15 September deadline for amendments to the criminal code.
According to reports from international news outlets, the changes would impose capital punishment on anyone convicted of intentionally starting fires in forested areas.
Capital punishment remains in Algeria’s penal code for some offences, but no execution has been carried out since 1993.
Under current law, deliberately starting forest fires is punishable by up to 30 years in prison, or life imprisonment in certain cases.
More than 100 wildfires have burned through northern Algeria in recent days amid an intense heatwave.
On Saturday, Tebboune said he did not rule out foul play given the intensity and spread of the fires, and ordered investigations.
He also directed that compensation be paid to affected families and that damaged homes and essential services be repaired.
By Sunday afternoon, civil protection units said 18 of 19 fires reported in the previous 24 hours had been extinguished.
