Prince Harry’s African charity admits human rights abuses after rainforest families said their rangers raped and beat tribespeople

An African wildlife charity part run by Prince Harry has admitted that human rights abuses were perpetrated by its own rangers following an explosive investigation by the Mail on Sunday.

The Duke of Sussex was the president of African Parks for six years until being elevated to the governing board of directors two years ago.

Harry is said to be fully briefed on the scandal and along with the board has been involved in bringing about change to deal with the issues.

The findings are another blow to the Duke of Sussex after his Sentebale charity was engulfed by scandal when he resigned from the board and its chair Sophie Chandauka accused him of ‘harassment and bullying at scale’ – a claim that is denied.

Last year an investigation by The Mail on Sunday discovered evidence of intimidation and abuse in the rainforests of the Republic of the Congo by guards managed and paid by the African Parks charity, including allegations of rapes and beatings.

The MoS found first-hand testimonies of atrocities inflicted on the Baka, an indigenous people once known as pygmies, to stop them entering forests where they have foraged, fished, hunted and found medicines for millennia.

One woman told of being raped by an armed guard while clinging to her newborn baby. And a teenage boy claimed he was groomed for paid sex by another guard.

A community activist said a Baka man died after being beaten and jailed without getting treatment for his injuries.