Prince Harry has resigned from the board of African Parks, a prominent wildlife conservation organization operating in Africa, following allegations of human rights abuses linked to the charity’s activities. A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex confirmed that he is no longer serving as a trustee of the organization.

African Parks, which manages national parks and protected areas in partnership with governments across the continent, faced significant controversy after a 2024 report revealed serious accusations against its park rangers in the Republic of the Congo. According to the report, local communities accused the rangers of using violent methods, including beatings, waterboarding, and sexual assault, to prevent people from accessing their ancestral forest lands.

The abuses, which African Parks acknowledged in a previous statement, have raised concerns about the impact of conservation efforts on indigenous populations and the balance between environmental protection and human rights. The organization stated that it was committed to addressing the issues and working to improve the conduct of its personnel.

Prince Harry’s involvement with African Parks had been part of his broader advocacy for wildlife conservation and environmental causes. The timing and reasons for his departure from the board were not detailed beyond the confirmation by his representative. The resignation comes amid increasing scrutiny of conservation groups and their relationships with local communities, particularly where enforcement efforts have led to allegations of mistreatment.

African Parks continues to operate multiple reserves across Africa, emphasizing its mission to restore and manage protected areas in partnership with governments and local communities. The incident in the Republic of the Congo has underlined ongoing challenges in balancing conservation goals with the rights and welfare of people living in or near protected territories.