In brief
Following allegations of egregious abuses against the Baka community, African Parks admits to human rights violations in its conservation efforts yet keeps investigation findings secret.
African Parks, a major conservation charity associated with Prince Harry, has publicly acknowledged that human rights abuses were committed by its rangers in Congo-Brazzaville. This admission comes after an independent review investigated severe allegations made by members of the Baka community. Notably, these allegations included serious offenses such as beatings, waterboarding, and sexual assault aimed at preventing locals from accessing their ancestral lands, which have now been designated as conservation areas.Originally reported by the Mail on Sunday, these allegations prompted African Parks to commission a review conducted by Omnia Strategy LLP, a law firm based in London and led by Cherie Blair. Although the review's findings were delivered directly to African Parks, the organization has opted not to publish them. Instead, it issued a statement confirming that human rights violations did occur in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park, which it oversees, without revealing specific details about the incidents.The investigation by Omnia Strategy began in December 2023, yet public insights remain scarce. The BBC has reached out to Omnia and the law firm Doughty Street Chambers for comments on the findings, but has received no additional information.In response to the allegations and the outcry from human rights advocacy groups, African Parks asserts that it has strengthened its safeguarding measures over the previous five years. These measures include hiring an anthropologist to better support the Baka communities and collaborating with local human rights NGOs. Additionally, the charity plans to carry out an independent human rights impact assessment.Survival International, an organization advocating for indigenous rights that brought the abuse allegations to Prince Harry's attention, criticized African Parks for its lack of transparency regarding the investigation's results. The organization pointed out that despite the charity's commitment to enhancing oversight and policies, these initiatives have not alleviated long-standing human rights violations reported for over a decade. They highlighted that African Parks was aware of these abuses as early as 2013 but failed to act adequately.African Parks, headquartered in Johannesburg, is renowned for managing protected areas across 13 African nations. With notable patrons and funding sources, including the European Union and major philanthropists, the charity has substantial financial backing. Prince Harry, who has been involved with African Parks since 2016 and was appointed to its Board of Directors in 2023, is a prominent figure within the organization.As the situation unfolds, both African Parks and Prince Harry face increasing scrutiny regarding their roles in addressing and rectifying these serious human rights concerns.
