Prince Harry was said to be “emotionally devastated” after losing control of an organization he had been a part of for nearly 20 years. The charity, African Parks, which he joined in 2016 and became president of the following year, had its 15-year association with Chad abruptly terminated by government officials.
African Parks was accused of being “disrespectful” and having a “whiff of neo-colonialism” by the environment ministry. The ministry claimed that the charity failed to protect wildlife and engaged in mismanagement, including collecting tourism revenues illegally and breaching regulations. African Parks described the decision as “unilateral” and said it had initiated discussions with the ministry to understand their position.
Despite the criticism, many people praise African Parks for its conservation efforts. Charlie Mayhew OBE, founder of a related charity, says that they have helped ensure the long-term survival of wildlife habitats. A journalist who visited one of the parks agrees, calling them “robust and no-nonsense”. However, officials in Chad claim that the charity prioritized politics over conservation.
The termination of African Parks’ association with Chad is not the first time the country has raised concerns about their operating techniques. In April, reports suggested that poachers had killed dozens of animals since the beginning of the year, including giraffes and critically-endangered rhinos. The charity was accused of not informing officials about these incidents.
Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/17/africa-turned-on-prince-harry