Prince Harry Linked Conservation Group Loses Mandate to Manage Chadian Wildlife Reserves
The government of Chad has unilaterally terminated its fifteen year partnership with African Parks, a prominent non profit conservation organisation on whose board Prince Harry sits. The decision, which immediately withdraws the charity's mandate to manage two key wildlife reserves, marks a significant setback for the organisation and a fresh blow to the Duke of Sussex’s charitable endeavors in Africa. The Environment Minister of Chad, Hassan Bakhit Djamous, confirmed the termination in an official statement, leveling severe accusations against the non profit.
The primary reasons cited for the withdrawal include a "recurring indelicate and disrespectful attitude toward the government" by African Parks officials. Beyond diplomatic disagreements, the Chadian government also accused the organization of failing to meet its core conservation obligations. Minister Djamous specifically noted a resurgence in poaching and a lack of investment in the protected areas managed by the conservation group. Furthermore, a government report accused the charity of serious financial misconduct, including transferring capital abroad to the detriment of Chad and maintaining unaudited accounts.
African Parks had been instrumental in managing the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve and the Greater Zakouma Ecosystem, which includes the Zakouma and Siniaka Minia national parks. Their involvement began in 2010 with the Zakouma National Park, and they often cited the successful restoration of the park's elephant population as a conservation success story. According to the charity's figures, the elephant numbers at Zakouma grew from approximately 450 when they took over in 2010 to more than 550 by 2019. Despite this reported success, the 15 year management partnership has been brought to an immediate end.
In response to the government's decision, African Parks issued a statement confirming the receipt of the unilateral termination notice. The organisation stated it has initiated discussions with the Chadian ministry to "better understand the government's position" and to "explore the best way forward to support the continued protection of these critical conservation landscapes."
This controversy adds to African Parks’ recent troubles. Earlier this year, the charity acknowledged that its guards at one of its national parks in the Republic of Congo committed human rights abuses against Indigenous peoples who were displaced when the park was constructed. Prince Harry, who served as President of African Parks for six years before joining its board of directors in 2023, is now facing increased scrutiny over his association with the organisation amidst these mounting allegations. The end of the Chad partnership follows closely on the heels of the Duke's decision to step down from Sentebale, a charity he cofounded to help children affected by HIV/AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana, making this a challenging period for his African charitable portfolio.