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The Chadian government has terminated its partnership with African Parks, a prominent conservation charity with the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, on its board of directors. The decision ends a 15-year mandate that allowed the organization to manage two of the nation's most significant wildlife reserves; the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve and the Greater Zakouma Ecosystem.
 
In a strongly worded statement, Chad's Ministry of Environment accused African Parks of displaying "arrogant and disrespectful" behavior toward the government and failing to cooperate effectively with local authorities. Officials further blamed the group for a resurgence of poaching across the parks, citing insufficient investment in anti-poaching measures.
 
African Parks, which manages 22 protected sites across 12 African countries, responded cautiously, stating that it had "begun talks with the ministry to understand the government's position and explore the best way forward." Despite its efforts to defend its record, the organization's reputation has already been bruised by a series of scandals. Earlier this year, it admitted that some of its employees in the Republic of Congo had abused local residents, a revelation that sparked global outrage when the group declined to release the full findings of an independent report into the incident.
 
Founded in 2000, African Parks' mission is to protect Africa's natural heritage while ensuring that conservation efforts remain socially and financially sustainable. The charity's backers include powerful figures and institutions such as the European Union, billionaire philanthropists Rob Walton and Howard Buffett, and major corporate donors. In 2023 alone, its funders contributed over $500,000 annually to its operations.
 
Prince Harry's involvement with the organization began in 2016, and he served as its president for six years before joining its board of directors in 2023. The Chadian decision marks yet another setback for his charitable endeavors following his resignation earlier this year from Sentebale, a charity he co-founded to support children orphaned by AIDS.
 
As Chad moves to reclaim full control of its wildlife parks, questions remain about the future of conservation management in the region.