Algeria Moves to Make Forest-Fire Arson a Capital Offence Despite 30-Year Execution Freeze

President Tebboune ordered draft amendments by 15 September making intentional forest-fire arson a capital offence, escalating the maximum penalty from life imprisonment. Algeria has not carried out an execution since 1993, though capital punishment remains on the statute books for some offences. The directive follows fires that killed at least 12 people across northern Algeria amid an intense North African heatwave.