Frantoumani Kourouma, 1948 - 2010
UN Police (Guinea)
Frantoumani Kourouma, a national of Guinea, worked with the UN Police for the UN Stabilization Mission to Haiti (MINUSTAH) since 2008. It was his second mission to Haiti.
Born in the village of Kiniero, east Guinea, Frantoumani had an extensive policing carrier at the national and international level for 30 years.
Frantoumani first studied education, graduating from the École nationale d’instituteurs in Macenta in 1967. He received a Diplôme d’études supérieures in economics from the Institut Polytechnique de Kankan in 1971. He also spoke fluent French, Malinke and Susu.
In 1980, at the age of 31, he began working at the Police Judiciaire in the capital, Conakry, where he remained for nine years. During this time he also studied policing at the Académie royale de Kiniero.
Frantoumani went on to hold posts all across Guinea, working as Central Commissioner in Mandiana, Forécariah and Matoto, serving simultaneously as Urban Commissioner for Gbessia.
In 1998, Frantoumani accepted the position of Chief of the Prevention Division focusing on transportation security. He was promoted to Deputy Director, a position he held for two years before his first deployment in Haiti.
From 2004 to 2006, he worked with MINUSTAH, monitoring the coastal town of Miragoâne, a major trading port in Haiti. Having been frequently commended for his work, colleagues stated that he was an asset to the UN mission.
“He stood out very quickly with his professionalism, his composure, his experience as well as his commitment,” said a colleague.
During his second deployment, he was in charge of the largest security unit in the west region of Haiti monitoring the downtown region and the sensitive area of Martissant, as well as functioning as regional security supervisor of the electoral office.
He excelled in this peacekeeping role, receiving a Certificate of Excellence three days before the earthquake from the Regional Commandant of the Haitian National Police for being an “exemplary officer and proud representative of Guinea.”
“He always distinguished himself as a good leader,” said a colleague. “He harmoniously coordinated the various police groups and the military in terms of group operations and collocation, and was a passionate worker when training the local electoral security agents.”
Interim President of Guinea, Sekouba Konate presented his condolences from the government and the state to the families of Frantoumani and his Guinean colleague who also died in the earthquake.
“I was deeply touched by the death of our two valiant police officers,” said Guinea’s Ambassador to the UN Alpha Ibrahima Sow. “They fell to an honorable cause as they were preparing to return to their home country after a successful mission in the name of peace and the international community.”
He continued, “I was shocked but also just as relieved that they had been found. I thought of the pain of the families, loved ones, friends and colleagues who had just been deprived of one of their own.”
He is survived by his wife and their six children and his brother Bandian.