Prince Harry should “step down” from the board of a conservation charity after a law firm found evidence human rights abuses had taken place.

African Parks manages Odzala-Kokoua National Park but the Baka tribespeople, who have lived in the area for generations, say its rangers have abused them.

Allegations included the rape of a mother as she clutched her baby, as well as torture, and triggered an investigation by Omnia Strategy.

The law firm has now reported its findings to the NGO, which confirmed in an online statement that human rights abuses by guards did take place.

Jonathan Mazower, communications director at Survival International, told Newsweek: “We think that Prince Harry and anyone else involved in African Parks should either commit the organization to a completely new way of doing business or step down.”

Survival wants the organization to pursue conservation in a fundamentally different way.

African Parks Acknowledges Abuses

The organization’s statement, published online, 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.”

The statement, however, did not confirm which abuses were admitted by the organization, meaning it remains unclear whether they are acknowledging that Baka people were raped by African Parks guards, as alleged.

“There’s a moral obligation on them to make the results of the investigation public,” Mazower said, “and I think it’s shameful that they haven’t.”

“We would hope that anyone who is funding African Parks will think again,” he added.

Newsweek reached out to African Parks for comment.

African Parks and ‘Fortress Conservation’

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.

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.

“It’s a whole model of conservation which is based around taking indigenous people’s land, turning them into protected areas, evicting the indigenous people and keeping them out through force,” Mazower said.

“They’ve been living with this treatment, as have many other indigenous communities, for years and years. This is not a one off thing or an isolated incident.

“There have been countless confirmed reports of similar abuses by armed rangers against indigenous people who have been evicted from their lands after their lands were turned into national parks across the Congo basin for years.

“You only have to go there and talk to the Baka people and stories start pouring out of people, so I doubt very much that they have any expectation that anything significant will change. And I don’t think it will change unless the Baka are allowed to go back to their lands.”

Prince Harry’s New York Visit

Harry has not sought to distance himself from the organization since the allegations of rape and torture first emerged publicly in January 2024.

In fact, he attended an African Parks event during a visit to New York in September and his staff posted a write up on the Sussex website talking about it.

“He [Harry] expressed how this pivotal moment further fueled his commitment to the continent as well as his passion for Africa’s rich biodiversity and cultural heritage,” the Sussex.com website reads.

“The Duke connected African Parks’ mission to his broader philanthropic vision, highlighting how their strategic approach aligns with his goals for sustainable change.

“He emphasized the importance of collaboration and investment in conservation efforts, noting that protecting Africa’s natural resources is essential for both the environment and the livelihoods of local communities.

“The event served not only as a celebration of African Parks’ impactful work across 22 protected areas in 12 countries but also as a rallying call to join this vital mission. The Duke’s participation underscored the urgency of the conservation challenges facing the continent and the need for collective action.”

Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek’s The Royals Facebook page.

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