The spotlight is on Prince Harry as serious allegations surface regarding his connection with the conservation charity African Parks.
Disturbing claims of violence and abuse against the Baka people in the Republic of Congo have ignited a wave of outrage, prompting many to urge the Duke of Sussex to sever ties with the organization immediately.
An in-depth investigation by the Mail on Sunday has revealed shocking accusations against guards employed by African Parks, where Prince Harry serves as a board member.
These guards are alleged to have committed heinous acts against the indigenous Baka community, including torture, rape, and even the fatal beating of a Baka man.
The Baka, who have lived in the Congo rainforest for generations, are the traditional guardians of this land.
However, the establishment of the Atsalakakwa National Park, managed by African Parks, has led to their forced eviction from ancestral homes and restricted access to vital resources.
Moyambai Fulbert, a member of the Baka community, expressed his frustration directly to Prince Harry.
He stated, “I’d tell him to stop supporting African Parks.
He is a powerful man.
He eats well and lives well.
But we don’t have anything now, and it’s all because of African Parks.” His words reflect the deep sense of loss and betrayal felt by the Baka, who now face dire circumstances.
The investigation paints a grim picture of the Baka’s suffering at the hands of African Parks’ armed guards.
Reports detail harrowing experiences, including men being chained together and subjected to brutal torture methods like waterboarding and whipping.
One particularly tragic account involves a Baka woman who was raped by an armed guard while holding her one-month-old baby.
Such accounts reveal a pattern of violence that extends beyond physical abuse.
Access to the forests, which the Baka have relied on for food, medicine, and other essentials, has also been denied.
Guards have actively prevented them from entering these vital areas, pushing the community further into desperation.
The situation has left many Baka struggling to maintain their traditional way of life.
Survival International, a human rights organization advocating for the Baka, has accused African Parks of complicity in these evictions and abuses.
Caroline Pierce, the director of the organization, has called for Prince Harry to resign from his position on the board, arguing that he must disassociate himself from an entity involved in such serious violations of human rights.
These allegations are not new; reports of abuse and rights violations have circulated for years.
In 2013, Survival International alerted African Parks about an attack on a Kola indigenous man by wildlife guards.
A report published in 2017 documented the illegal eviction of indigenous peoples from their lands in the Congo Basin under the guise of conservation efforts.
Despite these ongoing issues, African Parks insists on its zero-tolerance policy for abuse and claims to uphold the rights of local communities.
However, critics argue that the organization’s internal investigations lack transparency and independence, raising doubts about their commitment to addressing these serious allegations.
The revelations surrounding African Parks have cast a long shadow over Prince Harry’s reputation, leading many to question his dedication to human rights and environmental conservation.
As a prominent figure in the conservation movement, his association with an organization facing such grave accusations has drawn widespread condemnation.
Fiori Longo, head of Survival International’s conservation campaign, captured the prevailing sentiment succinctly: “Conservation areas are war zones for indigenous peoples.
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