Prince Harry Leaves African Parks Board After Charity Admits Human Rights Abuses, Including Torture Claims

Prince Harry has left the board of African Parks after a decade with the conservation charity, bringing his formal role to an end as the organisation faces continued scrutiny over human rights abuses involving rangers in the Republic of the Congo.

The departure is notable for another reason. Harry has not cut ties with African Parks entirely. His spokesperson said the Duke of Sussex remains an 'active and avid supporter' of the organisation and its conservation mission.

His departure comes after years of scrutiny over allegations involving African Parks rangers, although the organisation has said the board change forms part of a broader 'governance refresh'.

Harry's Decade With African Parks

Harry's relationship with African Parks began in 2016, when he supported a major elephant translocation in Malawi. He became the organisation's president in 2017, a position he held for six years before joining its board in 2023.

African Parks has described his contribution positively, thanking the Duke for 'a decade of committed service' to the organisation.

Now, as part of a wider governance refresh, Harry has stepped away from the board. African Parks said it was grateful for his decade of service, while his spokesperson said he remains committed to conservation in Africa.

The organisation announced the changes on 19 August, with new board appointments due to take effect on 30 September.

The Baka Abuse Allegations

The controversy centres on Odzala-Kokoua National Park in the Republic of the Congo, where African Parks has managed the protected area since 2010.

Members of the Indigenous Baka community were the subject of allegations involving abuse by ecoguards, including claims of beatings, torture and rape. The allegations also included claims that Baka people had been violently removed from land, contributing to starvation and restricting access to areas traditionally used by the community.

African Parks commissioned an independent investigation by Omnia Strategy LLP. The firm was appointed in December 2023 to investigate allegations covering the period from 2010 to 2024 and assess African Parks' compliance with its human rights obligations.

The investigation examined 21 separate incidents selected on factors including their gravity, available evidence and risks to potential victims and witnesses.

The allegations examined included serious physical and sexual violence, including rape, as well as torture or other ill-treatment, unlawful killing and arbitrary arrest and detention. The findings led to a significant admission from African Parks.

African Parks Admits Human Rights Abuses

In May 2025, African Parks acknowledged that human rights abuses had occurred at Odzala-Kokoua and said there was 'no place for any form of abuse' within conservation.

'African Parks acknowledges that, in some incidents, human rights abuses have occurred,' the organisation said in its response to the investigation.

The organisation also acknowledged areas where its safeguards could be strengthened and outlined measures including an Indigenous Peoples Plan, stronger partnerships with Congolese human rights organisations, an independent human rights impact assessment and a framework for providing remedies when breaches occur.

That wording matters. The charity acknowledged that abuses occurred, but Omnia's full investigative report has not been made public. Its publicly released statement describes the allegations investigated and its methodology but does not disclose detailed findings for each of the 21 incidents.

Claims that individual rangers committed specific acts of rape, torture or other violence should therefore remain clearly attributed rather than presented as separate admissions by African Parks.

The Investigation Still Raises Questions

The decision not to publish the complete investigation has become another source of criticism.

Survival International, which campaigns for Indigenous rights, has repeatedly challenged African Parks over the allegations and called for greater accountability.

The group has also criticised what it describes as a 'fortress conservation' model, in which protected areas can restrict Indigenous communities' access to their traditional lands.

Caroline Pearce, Survival International's executive director, welcomed Harry's departure but argued that it did not erase his decade-long association with the organisation.

'His departure doesn't undo that record — African Parks itself must now be held accountable,' Pearce said.

Her criticism shifts the focus beyond the Duke himself. The bigger dispute is about whether conservation can protect wildlife while also protecting the rights of the people who have traditionally lived in and used those forests.

African Parks, however, has defended its conservation work and says it is implementing reforms designed to strengthen safeguards, community engagement and access rights around Odzala

The Bigger Question for Harry

Harry's departure removes his formal position on the African Parks board, but it does not sever his connection to the organisation.

His spokesperson has made clear that he remains supportive of its mission, even after African Parks acknowledged that human rights abuses occurred at Odzala-Kokoua.

'The Duke is proud of his 10 years with African Parks and fully supports the ongoing strengthening of its board,' his spokesperson said.

That puts the spotlight back on the charity itself. Survival International has argued that Harry's exit does not resolve the underlying concerns and has called for African Parks to be held accountable for abuses against Indigenous people.

The debate is therefore moving beyond Harry's board seat. It is now about whether African Parks' promised reforms will deliver meaningful accountability for the Baka community and whether its conservation model can protect wildlife while respecting the rights of Indigenous communities that rely on those lands.

What Happens to African Parks Now?

African Parks manages protected areas in partnership with governments across 13 African countries, making the controversy much bigger than one royal association.

The organisation says it has strengthened safeguarding and is taking steps to address failures identified through the investigation. Among the measures outlined are reviewing access rights, developing a remedy framework for human rights breaches and conducting an independent human rights impact assessment.

For Harry, leaving the board closes a decade-long chapter in his conservation work. For African Parks, however, the harder task remains.

The charity must continue addressing questions about human rights, Indigenous access to land, transparency and accountability. Harry may have left the board, but scrutiny of African Parks and its treatment of Indigenous communities continues.