Prince Harry faces calls to step down from his African Parks charity over ‘torture’ claims

Prince Harry is facing calls to step down from his charity in Africa as he faces a series of new claims. 

The Duke of Sussex, 41, joined the board of African Parks in 2023 and was previously president for six years. African Parks is a non-profit conservation organisation that manages national parks across the continent.

Survival International, an indigenous rights charity, has alleged widespread wrongdoing by African Parks, including “rape and torture” by rangers, in the Republic of the Congo. 

The charity was previously accused of human rights abuses by eco-guards against the Baka community in Odzala-Kokoua National Park, leading to an independent investigation by law firm Omnia Strategy. 

In a May 2025 statement, African Parks acknowledged that “in some incidents, human rights abuses have occurred”, adding that they “deeply regret the pain and suffering caused to the victims”. They said that they were “implementing recommendations” as a result of the process. 

New claims

However, Survival International claimed on Wednesday that “the problems on the ground have not been solved”, according to a report in The Times. 

The organisation criticised the Duke for attending a fundraising event in Arizona this week with the aim to raise $1billion. 

A leader of the Baka Community told Survival International: “We don’t work with them. The way African Parks treat us here is violent.”

Caroline Pearce, the director of Survival International, said: “It is outrageous to see Harry’s continued support to African Parks despite the horrific human rights abuses committed by its rangers against the Baka.”

Representatives for the Duke of Sussex referred to the May 2025 statement when contacted by HELLO! for comment. HELLO! has also reached out to African Parks. 

Prince Harry’s close bond with Africa

Prince Harry’s involvement with African Parks stems from his close bond with the continent, dating back to his childhood. 

The father-of-two served as part of African Parks’ team to help implement the first phase of the 500 Elephants project in 2016.

In 1997, he joined his father, King Charles, on a trip to South Africa, spending time there out of the public eye after the death of his mother, Princess Diana. 

He even took his now-wife, Meghan Markle, to Botswana in the early months of their relationship in 2016. 

They returned in September 2019 alongside their four-month-old son, Prince Archie, for a tour of southern Africa. 

In a 2022 speech, Harry said: “Since I first visited Africa at 13 years old, I’ve always found hope on the continent. In fact, for most of my life, it has been my lifeline… 

“It’s where I’ve felt closest to my mother and sought solace after she died, and where I knew I had found a soulmate in my wife.”

Prince Harry and Sentebale

It comes as Prince Harry is facing another legal battle after being sued for defamation by Sentebale, a charity that he co-founded in 2006. 

A court filing made public in April showed that the charity, which was founded to fight HIV/AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana, lodged a defamation claim against him in the High Court. 

Mark Dyer, Harry’s close friend and former equerry to King Charles, was also named in the action. A spokesperson for Harry and Mark said “they categorically reject these offensive and damaging claims”. 

They added: “It is extraordinary that charitable funds are now being used to pursue legal action against the very people who built and supported the organisation for nearly two decades, rather than being directed to the communties the charity was created to serve.”

Harry resigned from the charity in March 2025 following a “breakdown” in relationship and “unthinkable controversy”.

Dr Sophie Chandauka, the chairwoman of the board, had alleged issues such as abuse of power, bullying, sexism, and racism, denied by representatives for the Duke.