Facing the deadly wave of wildfires sweeping through eastern and northern Algeria over the past several days, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has taken strong measures, promising both firmness toward those responsible and massive support for affected communities.
Meeting on Sunday, August 30th with senior civilian and military officials as well as the Minister of Justice, the head of state announced his intention to reinstate the death penalty for arsonists. This punishment, suspended under a moratorium since 1993, could therefore return to the Algerian Penal Code before September 15th. Tebboune stated that the proposal would first go through the government before being examined quickly by Parliament, and he warned that once all avenues of appeal were exhausted, convicted individuals would indeed be executed. « No one can bring Algeria to its knees, » he declared, in an address marked by notable firmness.
The human toll remains heavy. According to official figures released so far, at least twelve people have died in the forest fires, which have hit the wilayas of Béjaïa, Jijel and Tizi Ouzou particularly hard, though local sources fear the real death toll could be higher. Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Aït Messaoudène had described the toll as « very heavy » without giving a precise figure. A three day national mourning period has been declared, leading to the cancellation of all cultural festivities and sporting competitions planned across the country.
Beyond the criminal justice response, the Algerian president also made concrete commitments to affected families. All victims who lost their homes, furniture, appliances, livestock or fruit trees will be fully compensated by the state, a promise Tebboune has pledged to fulfill before September 15th. Several individuals suspected of deliberately starting fires have also been arrested by authorities.
This disaster has stirred deep emotion across the country. Striking scenes have been reported, including a mass burial that drew a large crowd at a cemetery in Jijel. Numerous videos filmed by residents trapped by the flames in this coastal and mountainous region known for its scenery have circulated widely on social media, fueling anger over what some observers describe as a gap between official communication and the reality on the ground.
On the international stage, France has expressed its solidarity. President Emmanuel Macron reiterated on Monday his country’s readiness to help Algeria, a message conveyed by French government spokesperson Maud Brégeon. Public figures, including footballer Karim Benzema, have also sent their thoughts to the victims.
This tragedy also revives painful memories of the 2021 Kabylie wildfires, which killed ninety people. Tebboune had at the time promised to strengthen firefighting resources, notably through the purchase of water bombing aircraft. Six Beriev planes were ordered back then, but only two are reportedly operational today according to Jeune Afrique, while a plan to use leased aircraft through Tassili Airlines was also announced in 2023, without preventing the tragedy from repeating itself five years later.