A shocking act of vandalism has reignited debate in Algeria after a man was caught on video damaging the country’s most famous public statue, the “Ain El Fouara” fountain in downtown Setif.
Security forces quickly intervened to stop the man and arrested him on-site.
Footage circulating widely online shows the individual climbing the fountain and smashing part of the statue’s face before officers pulled him down amid resistance. Eyewitnesses gathered around the square, expressing a mix of outrage and support, with some residents condemning the act as cultural destruction, while others framed it as a form of protest against the colonial-era artwork.
The Ain El Fouara statue, depicting a woman from Setif, was created by French sculptor Francis de Saint-Vidal and first unveiled in 1898. Originally displayed at the Louvre Museum to mark the 10th anniversary of the Eiffel Tower, the statue was later gifted to Setif by the city’s French military governor, where it was mounted atop a fountain with four water outlets.
Over its 127-year history, the statue has been repeatedly targeted. In 1997, a bomb placed beneath the monument shattered it completely, but it was restored within 24 hours. Nearly a decade later, in 2006, a man struck the statue’s face with a hammer, damaging its left cheek and nose. Further attacks in 2017 and again in 2022 left visible damage to its face and torso, prompting costly restoration efforts.
The most recent attack once again spotlights the ongoing tension between cultural heritage and historical memory in Algeria, where some view the statue as an enduring reminder of French colonialism, while others see it as a landmark tied to the city’s identity and tourism.
Authorities confirmed that the suspect is in custody and will face charges of vandalism and destruction of public property. Restoration efforts are expected to follow, though public debate over the statue’s fate is likely to intensify.
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