Prince Harry quits role as trustee of African Parks after charity accused of human rights abuses
The Duke of Sussex has left the board of a wildlife charity whose rangers have been accused of raping and torturing members of indigenous African tribes.
Prince Harry has quit a controversial wildlife charity at the centre of human right abuse allegations in Africa ahead of his return to Britain.
A spokesperson for African Parks told The Sun that the Duke of Sussex was no longer a trustee of the charity.
It follows revelations last year that the conservation group’s rangers had engaged in human rights abuses in Congo-Brazzaville.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Guards paid by the charity were also at the centre of an independent human rights investigation into the alleged beating, rape and torture of the Odzala-Kokoua National Park’s indigenous people.
The Duke became a member of the African Parks’ board of directors in 2023 after serving six years as the organisation’s president.
The organisation still claims the Prince as one of its active supporters with a representative highlighting his “commitment to conservation in Africa” and his work with African Parks rehoming elephants to Malawi.
“The Duke is proud of his 10 years with African Parks and fully supports the ongoing strengthening of its board,” the spokesperson saidl.
“His commitment to conservation in Africa continues, and he remains a supporter of African Parks’ mission.”
In the wake of the Odzala-Kokoua investigation, the organisation in 2025 claimed to have overhauled its vetting processes as well its safeguarding processes in the National Park.
Following the controversy surrounding African Park’s rangers the charity said in 2025 that it had improved its safeguarding processes both in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and institutionally.
Harry has left his role with the organisation after it was revealed that he and his wife, Meghan Markle, are planning to relocate with their children back to Britain this month, six years after they stepped down from their royal duties and moved to California.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are relocating with Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, to Britain for an extended period and the children will begin school there in September, People magazine and British newspaper The Daily Telegraph reported.
The couple will make their home in a non-royal residence outside of London, the newspaper said.
According to The Telegraph, the couple will not live in a royal residence. Their status will be unchanged, and they will remain non-working royals as agreed with the late Queen Elizabeth when they left in March 2020.
It has also emerged that former Suits star Markle has been discussing a major return to television with the duchess linked to a potential third season of Guy Ritchie’s show, The Gentlemen.
