However, in the wake of the disturbing allegations, Survival International, an organization advocating for the rights of indigenous peoples, has launched a campaign urging Prince Harry to sever ties with African Parks. The allegations include claims of beatings, rape, and torture by some of the charity's guards. African Parks, which manages national parks in 12 African countries through government partnerships, has faced firsthand testimonies alleging intimidation and abuse directed at the Baka and Indigenous people, preventing them from accessing essential resources in the forests.
Caroline Pierce, director of Survival International, expressed shock at the revelations, stating that African Parks Rangers are accused of brutalizing the Baka people and facilitating the theft of the rainforest. She emphasized the scandalous nature of these atrocities occurring while wealthy tourists engage in gorilla-spotting safaris in the region. Pierce called on Prince Harry, known for taking a high-profile stand against racism, to distance himself from a charity she deems complicit in egregious abuses.
In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for Prince Harry's Foundation Archewell stated that when the Duke became aware of these serious accusations, he promptly escalated them to the CEO and chairman of the board of African Parks. The charity claims to have a zero-tolerance policy for any form of abuse and is committed to upholding the rights of local and indigenous people. Despite Archewell's recent financials indicating no donations to African Parks, Prince Harry continued to include the organization in his bio, even after being informed before the Legends of Aviation event.
Archewell released a statement condemning the reported abuses, emphasizing their zero-tolerance stance. However, critics argue that while words denouncing the actions have been issued, concrete actions or financial commitments have not followed suit, raising concerns about the sincerity of the response.
