Sudan: The Case of Two Phantom UNICEF Representatives in Sudan : Fouad Kronfol

 It all started when we found out that UNICEF Khartoum was commemorating the 70th anniversary of Sudan and UNICEF cooperation in 2022. We thought it would be a nice thing to establish contact with the current Representative and staff in order to explore possible cooperation with our XUNICEF Network. Initial contacts were positive as we exchanged with the SCO leadership, including Mahteep O'Brien, Representative and some of her staff. We learned that SCO had published a booklet outlining in brief UNICEF cooperation with Sudan since inception in 1952. 

Meanwhile I had written an account of the beginnings of the UNICEF Khartoum country office and my personal involvement in the programme, starting from my appointment to the Cairo Area Office, through the evolution of the programme,the formal establishment of the Sudan Country Office in January 1974 and ending with my transfer to NYHQ in 1976. 

Through the XUNICEF Digest we solicited articles from others who had served in the Sudan. Since only Paula Claycomb wrote one, the effort was a disappointment as no other XUNICEF members contributed although we knew of many who had worked in various offices of Sudan. Meanwhile our démarches with the SCO, while friendly, gave little results and the contacts were discontinued.

An interesting new development came about when Luis Mendez shared with us a photo taken by one of the visiting Consultants from his firm which showed a poster prepared by someone in the SCO in which were shown the UNICEF Representatives who had served in Sudan from inception to 2016 with a photo of each and the dates in post. To our dismay, the poster was missing the photos of the first two Representatives, Fouad Kronfol and Uffe Konig. Various attempts to correct the poster and to update it to the present time were not successful so far. Interesting that for the first Representative, both the dates of his tenure and his name were wrong.

In addition, it is useful to mention that the SCO also had a.i. Representatives at various periods, including notably Tom McDermott for a 14 month period between Uffe Konig and before Samir Basta. 

It is a pity that this poster and the historical information it contains could not be found and corrected by the SCO, especially that three of the early Representatives have now passed away; Uffe Konig, Farid Rahman and Samir Basta. We know where to find photos of the first Representative, Fouad Kronfol, but are still looking for someone to find a photo of Uffe Konig.

Perhaps this is a small example of how little importance UNICEF gives to its historical milestones, its evolution and to the staff who have contributed over the years.

Or should we solicit the help of Sherlock Holmes or Inspector Poirot to solve the case ??

From Fouad Kronfol

Oh ! that wonderful country of Sudan,

Not sure if it is Arab or African.

Now halved into one of each clan..

So hot, it is where I got my dark tan

Where one constantly needed a fan..

Or Into the shade of a mango tree I ran.

But I'll tell you what I can,

That UN Reps are subject to a ban,

Especially if they drive a car, not a van.

But answer me, my dear govt. man,

What, if ever, was the plan,

To deal with the international clan,

Jumping from the fire into the frying pan

In such a short time span?

Fouad

From Sree Gururaja

A pity though it seems

That In the country you love

Civil strife has recurred

Bringing bloodshed and destruction

Rulers unwilling to compromise

their greed for power overides

In that country that’s African and Arab

Where democracy remains elusive.

Sree