Overview

• African Parks has publicly admitted that its rangers committed human rights abuses, including rape, torture, and forced evictions, against the Baka people in the Republic of Congo's Odzala-Kokoua National Park.
• The admission follows an independent investigation by Omnia Strategy, commissioned after allegations surfaced in 2023 and a subsequent media exposé in January 2024.
• The charity has endorsed a management plan based on the investigation's recommendations but has not released the full report, drawing criticism from advocacy groups like Survival International.
• Prince Harry, a board member and former president of African Parks, faces calls to resign over his association with the charity and its handling of the abuses.
• Critics argue that African Parks' fortress conservation model displaces Indigenous communities, perpetuating systemic issues despite pledged reforms.