Prince Harry Leaves Scandal-Hit African Parks NGO Before UK Return
Prince Harry has stepped down from the board of directors of African Parks, ending a decade-long formal association with the conservation organization just as human rights scrutiny surrounds the group, according to statements released Monday by both the NGO and the Duke of Sussex’s spokesperson.
The departure from the Johannesburg-based conservation body coincides with preparations for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to relocate back to the United Kingdom from the United States, where they have lived since 2020 with their two children. Prince Harry spent six years as president of African Parks before transitioning to its board of directors in 2023.
Board Departure Follows Congo Investigations
African Parks manages 24 protected areas and national parks across 13 African nations. The organization acknowledged human rights violations committed by its personnel in the Congo last year, following press reports detailing accusations of murder, rape, and torture linked to rangers at Odzala-Kokoua National Park.
In January 2024, the British newspaper Mail on Sunday and the German media outlet Tagesschau published accounts from local residents alleging that rangers employed by African Parks subjected members of the indigenous Baka community to severe physical abuses near the Congolese park.
Following those publications, the Omnia law firm was retained to investigate the matter. The firm reported examining 21 incidents involving allegations of grave physical and sexual violence—including rapes—amounting to torture, unlawful killings, and arbitrary arrests and detentions. However, in agreement with African Parks, the law firm did not publish the detailed findings of its inquiry.
By May 2025, the organization formally admitted that staff members had committed abuses. African Parks stated that its board of directors and the Duke of Sussex “mutuellement convenu qu’après dix années de service, le moment était venu de mettre un terme à son rôle officiel, dans le cadre d’un renouvellement normal de la gouvernance.” The organization explicitly noted that Prince Harry “n’a pas été écarté du conseil.”
Future Plans and Ongoing Conservation Support
Addressing the departure, a spokesperson for Prince Harry stated that the duke remains “fier de ses dix années passées au sein d’African Parks, et soutient pleinement le renforcement de la gouvernance de l’organisation.” The representative added that “son engagement en faveur de la conservation en Afrique demeure intact et il continue de soutenir la mission d’African Parks.”
