" Charity with Prince Harry as director investigating rape and torture claims" 28 January 2024

A wildlife charity that has the Duke of Sussex as a board member is investigating allegations of rape and torture by its guards in the Republic of the Congo.

African Parks, which manages 22 national parks and protected areas across 12 countries, said the investigation was its “highest priority” and encouraged anyone with knowledge of any abuse to contact it. The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, is listed as a board member of the non-profit organisation after serving as the organisation’s president for six years. Guards managed and paid by the charity had engaged in the beating, rape and torture of Indigenous people in the rainforests of the Republic of the Congo, according to allegations first reported by the Mail on Sunday. A statement from the African Parks board and chief executive said it had a zero-tolerance approach to abuse and was committed to upholding the rights of local and Indigenous people.

It said an investigation had been launched after an unnamed board member was alerted by the charity Survival International to allegations of abuse by guards. But it accused Survival International of failing to cooperate with its inquiry. The statement said: “We are aware of the serious allegations regarding human rights abuses by eco-guards against local people living adjacent to Odzala-Kokoua national park in the Republic of Congo, which have recently received media attention. “We immediately launched an investigation through an external law firm based on the information we had available, while also urging Survival International to provide any and all facts they had. It’s unfortunate that they have chosen not to co-operate, despite repeated requests, and we continue to ask for their assistance. “We encourage anyone with knowledge of any abuses to report them to us or to the Congolese law enforcement authorities, which will assist with the investigation and ensure that the perpetrators of any abuses are brought to justice.”