Prince Harry is facing increasing pressure to step down from the board of African Parks, a conservation organisation, following allegations of “rape and abuse” carried out by its eco-guards. Human rights campaigners, including Survival International, have called on the Duke of Sussex to distance himself from the organisation until a thorough investigation is conducted.
As reported by the Mirror, Survival International, a London-based human rights group, claims to have written to Prince Harry in May expressing concerns about the violent mistreatment of Baka indigenous people by armed guards associated with African Parks. During his tenure as president of the organisation, Prince Harry received a video message from Eyaya, a Baka man, detailing the alleged abuses. Eyaya stated that eco-guards prevented them from accessing the forest and accused them of inflicting torture.
The Duke of Sussex reportedly responded to the letter and video within two weeks, pledging to address the concerns with the organization’s leadership, including chief executive Peter Fearnhead, a well-known Zimbabwean conservationist who attended Harry and Meghan’s wedding in 2018. However, Harry’s subsequent decision to join the board of directors has disappointed campaigners who hoped for more decisive action.
Fiore Longo, campaigns director at Survival International, expressed disappointment, stating, “He [Harry] said he took it seriously, but it didn’t achieve the change we had hoped to see. Then, very disappointingly, we learned that Harry had joined the board of directors.” Longo urged Prince Harry to step down from the board, emphasising that such a move would send a clear message that human rights abuses in the name of conservation are not acceptable.
The allegations of abuse gained further attention through an investigation by the Mail, detailing instances where African Parks guards reportedly mistreated the Baka people. The report includes a claim from a woman who asserts she was raped by a guard three years ago, resulting in her attacker being dismissed after an internal investigation and a two-month jail sentence.
Another account in the investigation describes a man who alleges he was “tortured and beaten” by guards when they discovered him collecting honey for his family. African Parks responded to the allegations by asserting their commitment to a “zero-tolerance” policy for abuse and acknowledged awareness of the serious allegations. The organisation initiated an investigation through an external law firm last year, urging cooperation from Survival International, which the latter declined.
In their statement, African Parks said, “It’s unfortunate that they have chosen not to cooperate, despite repeated requests, and we continue to ask for their assistance.” African Parks, a non-governmental organisation founded in 2000 and headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, focuses on conservation efforts.
The Mirror sought comment from Prince Harry’s representative, but no immediate response was received at the time of reporting. The escalating controversy underscores the challenges faced by conservation organisations in balancing their goals with respect for the rights and well-being of indigenous communities.
