In brief
An independent review highlighted allegations against park rangers, yet the charity has kept full findings under wraps, raising skepticism from advocacy groups.
African Parks, a significant conservation organization associated with Prince Harry, has publicly recognized that serious human rights abuses were carried out by its rangers in Congo-Brazzaville. This acknowledgement follows a review prompted by alarming allegations from the Baka community, who claimed rangers employed extreme measures, including violent tactics, to restrict access to their ancestral forests now designated as conservation areas.Despite commissioning the independent review led by Omnia Strategy LLP, a law firm overseen by Cherie Blair, African Parks has refrained from disclosing the complete findings of the investigation. In a statement, the charity confirmed that abuses occurred within the Odzala-Kokoua National Park but omitted specific details regarding the nature of the incidents.Since the review commenced in December 2023, Omnia has provided updates but has not released the results or recommendations publicly, stating they were shared directly with African Parks. Efforts to obtain further comments from Omnia and associated legal representatives yielded no additional insight, nor was there any comment from Prince Harry, who has been intricately involved with African Parks for years.In response to the findings, African Parks claims to have taken several safeguarding measures over the past five years. Initiatives include appointing an anthropologist to ensure better support for the Baka communities along with collaboration with local human rights organizations. They have also announced plans for an independent human rights impact assessment moving forward.Criticism emerged from Survival International, an advocacy group dedicated to the rights of indigenous peoples, expressing dissatisfaction with African Parks for withholding the review's findings. The organization contended that despite promises for enhanced reports and staffing, previous inaction regarding alleged abuses over several years casts doubt on the charity’s ability to prevent future violations.Previously revealed allegations in 2023 disclosed that African Parks had knowledge of these abuses since 2013. The charity had reportedly approached Survival for more information at that time, though the group expressed reluctance to collaborate to protect their sources from potential retaliation.Headquartered in Johannesburg, African Parks manages 23 protected areas across 13 African nations, and its initiatives are supported by high-profile sponsors, including the European Union and several prominent philanthropists. Prince Harry, who stepped back from royal duties, serves on the Board of Directors, further intertwining his public involvement with the charity and its operations. For continuous updates and discussions related to this story, follow us on our social media channels.
