Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, was on the governing board of directors of African Parks after being its president for six years, but today the charity faced criticism
Chad has cut ties with a wildlife charity associated with Prince Harry.
The nation accused African Parks of being “disrespectful” and, in a damning four-page statement, Chad’s environment minister Hassan Bakhit Djamous announced the end to the country’s 15-year partnership with it. The Duke of Sussex, 41, was its president for six years before he was elavated to the governing board of directors in 2023.
But following previous controversy surrounding charity work earlier this year, Harry has now suffered his latest blow as Mr Djamous branded African Parks as “a recurring indelicate and disrespectful attitude toward the government”.
African Parks says it now intends to “explore the best way forward” following the criticism, which also included Mr Djamous’ allegations that there had been a resurgence in poaching and a lack of investment at the reserves managed by the conservation group.
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The charity said today it is in talks to “better understand the government’s position” and “explore the best way forward to support the continued protection of these critical landscapes”.
“African Parks will continue to keep its partners and stakeholders informed, as further clarity is obtained,” the charity, to which Chad had links since 2010, continued.
African Parks had led anti-poaching efforts and to restore elephant populations at the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve and the Greater Zakouma Ecosystem, which includes the Zakouma and Siniaka-Minia national parks.
According to the charity, the elephant population at Zakouma National Parks increased from 450 in 2010, when it took over management of the site, to over 550 by 2019.
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But last year, evidence of intimidation and abuse in the rainforests of the Republic of the Congo by guards managed and paid by African Parks was uncovered. This included claims of of rapes and beatings.
The press found first-hand testimonies of atrocities inflicted on the Baka, an indigenous people once known as pygmies, to stop them entering forests where they have foraged, fished, hunted and found medicines for millennia.
The charity said in a statement in May last year: “The board of African Parks has reviewed Omnia’s advice and endorsed the management plan and timeframes to implement the recommendations resulting from this process.
“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.”
