Prince Harry faces African Parks scandal ahead of New York humanitarian award

Harry and Meghan are expected in New York tomorrow at a mental health gala, where they will be recognized as ’humanitarians of the year’.

But the ceremony will be overshadowed by a critical letter issued by the government of Chad targeting a charity with which the Duke is closely linked. 

The country’s environment minister, Hassan Bakhit Djamous, has accused Africa Parks - which counts Harry among its board members - of financial misconduct and ’disrespect’.

In a damning four-page letter, Mr. Djamous said Africa Parks had demonstrated ’a recurring indelicate and disrespectful attitude’ towards his government.

The charity, of which Harry was president for six years before joining its board in 2023, manages more than 20 protected national parks and reserves in 13 countries on behalf of their governments.

Its backers include famous billionaire investors Warren Buffet and Bill Ackman, and it counts the EU, WWF, and People’s Postcode Lottery among its supporters. 

But Mr. Djamous has accused it of illegally collecting tourist revenues, using tax-sheltering bank accounts in the Isle of Man and transferring assets abroad in ’flagrant violation’ of Chad’s banking laws.

He further claimed there had been a resurgence in poaching and a lack of investment at reserves managed by the conservation group.

The Duke of Sussex has been contacted for comment on the claims - a day before he and Meghan arrive in New York for Project Healthy Minds’ World Mental Health Day Festival at the flashy Spring Studios venue.

At the ceremony, they will be celebrated for their ’meaningful contributions to advancing mental wellbeing worldwide’ including with young people - having collaborated extensively with Project Healthy Minds, who is giving out the award, in the past.

In a joint statement, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: ’Working with families and young people to prioritize safety online has been some of the most meaningful work of our lives. 

’As parents ourselves, we have been moved to action by the power of their stories and are honored to support them.

’We’re proud to be long-time partners of Project Healthy Minds as we work together to shine a light on what remains one of the most pressing issues of our time.’

Project Healthy Minds founder and CEO Phillip Schermer, a former high-flyer at investment firm Blackrock - called it a "privilege" to be able to honor the couple.

And it comes just days after Meghan made a surprise appearance at Paris Fashion Week, turning heads as she rubbed shoulders with Anna Wintour and Baz Luhrmann at a Balenciaga runway event. 

Harry is understood to have stayed home to look after their children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lillibet, four.

But the Africa Parks scandal may loom at the back of the Duke’s mind - coming soon after his very public departure from children’s charity Sentebale after a dispute with chair Dr. Sophie Chandauka, who called his personal brand ’toxic’.

She remains in position. A Charity Commission probe earlier this year found no evidence of ’widespread bullying or harassment’ as she had claimed, but criticized the organization for lacking proper processes to report allegations of misconduct.

The Chad scandal is the latest issue to befall Africa Parks after a Mail investigation found evidence that guards managed by Africa Parks were embarking on campaigns of abuse and intimidation. 

Allegations of abuse of indigenous people were upheld earlier this year following an independent investigation, the results of which Africa Parks has not published.

And the Duke, 41, has not spoken out on either those claims or the latest allegations made by the Chadian government. 

He did, however, attend an Africa Parks event in September 2024, several months after human rights abuses came to light. 

Africa Parks said in a statement it was in talks to ’better understand the government’s position’ and ’explore the best way forward to support the continued protection of these critical landscapes’.

’African Parks will continue to keep its partners and stakeholders informed, as further clarity is obtained,’ the charity said.

It had led anti-poaching efforts and worked to restore elephant populations at the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve and the Greater Zakouma Ecosystem, which includes the Zakouma and Siniaka-Minia national parks.

According to African Parks, the elephant population at Zakouma National Parks increased from 450 in 2010, when it took over management of the site, to over 550 by 2019.

It comes just six months after Chad renewed its agreement with the charity and is the latest blow to hit African Parks.

Last year, an investigation by The Mail on Sunday discovered evidence of intimidation and abuse in the rainforests of the Republic of the Congo by guards managed and paid by the African Parks charity, including allegations of rapes and beatings.

The MoS found first-hand testimonies of atrocities inflicted on the Baka, an indigenous people once known as pygmies, to stop them entering forests where they have foraged, fished, hunted, and found medicines for millennia.

One woman told of being raped by an armed guard while clinging to her newborn baby. And a teenage boy claimed he was groomed for paid sex by another guard.

A community activist said a Baka man died after being beaten and jailed without getting treatment for his injuries.

African Parks then launched an independent review and the charity has now admitted that human rights abuses occurred in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park since December 2023.

The results of the probe, carried out by London law firm Omnia Strategy LLP, then went directly to African Parks. It did not publicly share the results.

The charity said in a statement in May: ’The board of African Parks has reviewed Omnia’s advice and endorsed the management plan and timeframes to implement the recommendations resulting from this process.

’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.

’Omnia’s process also highlighted several failures of our systems and processes that were insufficient for the level of responsibility given to us, particularly in the early years of our management of Odzala.’

The Mail has contacted the Government of Chad and the Duke of Sussex for further comment. Africa Parks declined to comment further when approached.