If there is one place that has always felt like home to Prince Harry, it is Africa. But right now, that deep personal connection is at the centre of a very public storm — and the pressure on the Duke of Sussex is intensifying by the day.
The Charity At The Heart Of The Controversy
Harry, 41, has been a board member of African Parks since 2023, having previously served as its president for six years. The non-profit manages national parks across the continent and is a cause the Duke has championed passionately for decades.
But indigenous rights organisation Survival International has now alleged that African Parks rangers have carried out acts of "rape and torture" against the Baka community in the Republic of the Congo — claims that have sent shockwaves through conservation circles.
The Moment Nobody Saw Coming
African Parks itself acknowledged in a May 2025 statement that "in some incidents, human rights abuses have occurred" and expressed deep regret. Yet Survival International says the situation on the ground remains unchanged.
"It is outrageous to see Harry's continued support to African Parks despite the horrific human rights abuses committed by its rangers against the Baka." — Caroline Pearce, Director, Survival International
The criticism sharpened further this week when Harry attended a fundraising gala in Arizona with a $1 billion target — while campaigners say vulnerable communities are still suffering.
Why Africa Means Everything To Harry
This isn't just a board position to the Duke — it's deeply personal. He first visited the continent aged 13, travelling to South Africa with his father King Charles in the painful aftermath of Princess Diana's death.
He brought Meghan Markle to Botswana in the early weeks of their romance in 2016, and the couple later returned with baby Archie in 2019. In his own words, Africa is where he has "felt closest" to his late mother.
Troubles Mounting On Every Front
The African Parks row is not Harry's only charity headache right now. Sentebale — the organisation he co-founded in 2006 to fight HIV/AIDS in southern Africa — filed a defamation claim against him earlier this year, details of which became public in April.
Representatives for the Duke pointed HELLO! towards African Parks' existing May 2025 statement when asked to comment. For a man who has always said Africa is his lifeline, the road ahead looks anything but straightforward.
