Prince Harry has come under fresh pressure over his African Parks charity after it was ditched by the government of Chad.
The Duke of Sussex sits on the board of the NGO, which manages huge areas of rainforest in a number of African countries through agreements with their governments.
The organization has faced mounting controversy since May, when it acknowledged that some human rights abuses had occurred following an investigation into allegations of rape and torture of Indigenous people in the Republic of Congo by its rangers.
Now the Chadian government has written to African Parks to confirm what the charity described as a “unilateral decision to terminate” its management of two protected areas in the north-central African nation: the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve and the Greater Zakouma Ecosystem.
In a statement shared on Facebook, Chad’s Minister of Environment, Fisheries and Sustainable Development, Hassan Bakhit Djamous, said the decision followed “the resurgence of poaching and the severe lack of investment” by African Parks in infrastructure and anti-poaching efforts as well as the failure “to respect key clauses of the agreements” and “recurring irreverence shown towards the government of Chad.”
African Parks said in a statement: “African Parks confirms that on 6 October 2025, it received official correspondence from Mr. Hassan Bakhit Djamous, the Minister of Environment, Fisheries and Sustainable Development of Chad, informing the organisation of the Government of Chad’s unilateral decision to terminate the two management mandates it has with African Parks. These mandates relate to the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve and the Greater Zakouma Ecosystem, which includes Zakouma National Park and Siniaka-Minia National Park.
“African Parks has initiated discussions with the Ministry to understand the Government’s position and to explore the best possible way forward in support of the continued protection of these critical conservation landscapes, as well as to ensure that the significant conservation and social gains achieved over the past 15 years, are sustained.”
Harry was already under pressure to distance himself from the organization after accounts of human rights abuses emerged in the British press in January 2024 through campaign group Survival International, which seeks to protect the rights of indigenous tribes around the world.
Survival International told Newsweek in a statement: “This is yet another setback for African Parks’s harmful model of conservation: not only does it violate human rights, it also doesn’t work.
“Earlier this year, the organization refused to publish the results of its investigation into human rights abuses. Together with its growing list of scandals, this reveals a deep lack of accountability and transparency.
“Its supporters—including funders and board member Prince Harry—must take a hard look at themselves and end their support before more damage is done.”
Newsweek has reached out to African Parks for comment.
Allegations of Abuse Against African Parks
In January 2024, The Mail on Sunday published testimony from alleged victims, including a Baka tribeswoman in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park who said an African Parks ranger led her into the forest and raped her as she clutched her newborn baby.
Ella Ene told the newspaper: “I was holding my baby while being raped and trying to protect him. My first reaction had been to protect my baby. It was very violent.”
Another man said he was cuffed, whipped on the back and his head was forced under water. He told the Mail: “Some guards are bad people and their activities should be stopped. What they are doing is cruel and inhumane.”
An online statement by African Parks in May said: “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.”
“We are committed to addressing the shortcomings that have been identified,” it continued. “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.”
Another Blow to Harry’s Charity Work?
Prince Harry stepped down from another of his Africa-focused charities, Sentebale, in March after a toxic dispute with its chair, Sophie Chandauka.
The decision by Harry and other trustees followed a lawsuit she had filed against the organization at the High Court in London.
Harry has signaled a desire to continue charity work in Africa, potentially through a new organization, though no concrete plans have yet emerged.
Do you have a question about King Charles III and Queen Camilla, William and Kate, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We’d love to hear from you.