In brief
Chad's government has cut ties with African Parks, a wildlife conservation organization where Prince Harry serves on the board. The decision, driven by accusations of failure to combat poaching and a lack of cooperation, marks the end of a 15-year agreement for managing protected reserves like the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve. The charity plans to discuss the issues raised with the Chadian authorities as tensions escalate over wildlife management and conservation in the region.
The Chadian government has terminated its agreement with a controversial conservation organization that has the Duke of Sussex on its board of directors. It accused the charity African Parks of failing to curb poaching, ending a 15-year mandate to manage two of its protected sites in the central African country. The environment ministry stated that African Parks displayed an arrogant and disrespectful attitude towards the government and failed to fully cooperate with authorities. Meanwhile, African Parks expressed its intention to speak with the ministry to comprehend the government's stance and explore ways to continue protecting critical conservation landscapes.African Parks, of which Prince Harry is a board member and former president, helped manage the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve and the Greater Zakouma Ecosystem, which includes Zakouma and Siniaka-Minia national parks, among others. In recent times, the charity faced scandal due to admitted abuses by employees in one of its locations in the Republic of Congo, while it also resisted publishing an independent report on the issues.The Chadian government informed African Parks of their unilateral decision in an official letter from Environment Minister Hassan Bakhit Djamous, blaming the resurgence of poaching on insufficient investment from the charity. Founded in 2000, African Parks aims to protect Africa's wildlife through managing national parks and advancing conservation efforts. Prince Harry has been involved with the organization since 2016, and his recent resignation from Sentebale highlights ongoing challenges in his philanthropic endeavors. The government’s decision serves as another setback for Harry’s charitable interests as scrutiny over his associations grows.
