Prince Harry to Leave African Parks Amid Abuse Allegations and Governance Concerns

Prince Harry, who became African Parks’ president after supporting elephant conservation since 2016, will leave the board in the coming weeks, according to the NGO’s own statement about a board reshuffle. Investigative journalist Olivier van Beemen says the royal’s involvement has shifted from a fundraising asset to a liability as the organization confronts allegations of human-rights violations by its armed rangers. African Parks manages 24 protected areas in 13 African nations, operating under delegated management contracts that give it extensive control over security, tourism and anti-poaching actions, prompting critics to label it a “state within a state.”

The most serious accusations stem from the Republic of Congo’s Odzala-Kokoua National Park, where indigenous Baka people reported violence and sexual abuse; an internal investigation acknowledged some abuses but the full report remains unpublished. While African Parks rejects van Beemen’s portrayal and claims factual inaccuracies, it maintains a zero-tolerance stance and promises reforms, though transparency remains limited.