Prince Harry has been urged to “step down” from the board of conservation charity, African Parks, after a law firm found evidence human rights abuses had taken place. Baka tribespeople from Odzala-Kokoua National Park, managed by the African Parks, say its rangers abused them, which triggered an investigation.
Law firm, Omnia Strategy, reported its findings to the NGO, which confirmed in a statement that human rights abuses by guards did take place. Communications director at a human rights organisation, Jonathan Mazower from Survival International, told Newsweek: “We think that Prince Harry and anyone else involved in African Parks should either commit the organisation to a completely new way of doing business or step down.”
He also believed there’s a “moral obligation” to make the investigation findings public.
In 2023, after serving six years as President, Prince Harry was elevated to an officially appointed member of the Board of Directors, the governing body of the organisation.
The statement read: “African Parks acknowledges that, in some incidents, human rights abuses have occurred, and we deeply regret the pain and suffering that these have caused to the victims.
“Omnia’s process also highlighted several failures of our systems and processes that were insufficient for the level of responsibility given to us, particularly in the early years of our management of Odzala.
“We are committed to addressing the shortcomings that have been identified. Further, where sufficient evidence is available, we will take action against staff members implicated in incidents not yet known about, or that had not been adequately dealt with.
“The Board is confident that the institutional improvements implemented over the past five years, along with those planned for the coming months—incorporating valuable recommendations from Omnia—will mitigate risks in the future.”
However, the statement didn’t confirm which abuses were admitted by the organisation, so it remains unclear whether they are acknowledging that Baka people were raped by African Parks guards, as alleged.
Currently, rangers are required to keep the Baka out of areas of the park that are considered protected, which the tribespeople say prevents them hunting and foraging for food in keeping with their culture dating back centuries.|
According to Newsweek, the charity says this is necessary to protect the park as a natural resource for future generations but Survival call it “fortress conservation” and say it is leaving the Baka starving.
Harry has not sought to distance himself from the charity since the allegations first emerged publicly in January 2024.He attended an African Parks event during a visit to New York in September 2024.
Earlier this year, Prince Harry resigned from charity Sentebale, after a row between the trustees and the chair of its board. Prince Harry initially co-founded Sentebale in 2006 in honour of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, to help people in southern Africa living with HIV and Aids.
