Chad has abruptly ended its partnership with African Parks, a major conservation nonprofit whose board includes Prince Harry, after accusing the organization of mismanagement and failing to curb poaching in several of the country's protected reserves, The New York Times reported on Thursday.

According to the report, Chad's Minister of Environment, Hassan Bakhit Djamous, informed African Parks in an official letter that the government had made a "unilateral decision to terminate the two management mandates it has with African Parks." The move severs the group's role overseeing the Greater Zakouma Ecosystem and the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve, areas it has managed since 2010.

The ministry accused the nonprofit, based in South Africa, of poor performance and a lack of transparency, citing its failure to prevent a surge in poaching. The Times of London and regional media outlets reported that the Ministry also alleged "mismanagement" and communication breakdowns, claiming the government had not been informed of recent poaching incidents.

Conservation rift

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In April, the watchdog group Follow the Money revealed that the Chadian government had launched an investigation after two dozen animals were killed within the first three months of the year, including buffaloes, giraffes, and critically endangered rhinos. The Ministry reportedly accused African Parks of withholding information about the attacks.

In a statement, African Parks acknowledged the rupture, calling it "unilateral" and saying it had "initiated discussions with the ministry to understand the government's position and to explore the best possible way forward." The organization defended its record, noting that "significant conservation and social gains" had been achieved over the past fifteen years.

The fallout adds to the growing scrutiny surrounding Prince Harry's philanthropic ventures. Less than two months ago, Britain's charity regulator cleared the Duke of Sussex of misconduct allegations at Sentebale, a separate nonprofit he co-founded to support youth in southern Africa, after a high-profile internal dispute prompted his resignation from the charity.

Read more: Baby Elephant Dies after Falling Prey to Poacher’s Trap

Wildlife fallout

African Parks, which manages protected areas in more than a dozen African nations, counts among its major supporters Rob Walton, heir to the Walmart fortune, and his wife Melani Lowman-Walton, who pledged $100 million in 2021 through their foundation. Other backers include the Howard G. Buffett Foundation and the Pershing Square Foundation, established by billionaire investor Bill Ackman.

The group has faced other controversies in recent years. In 2023, it responded to allegations of human rights abuses against Indigenous communities at the Odzala-Kokoua National Park in the Republic of Congo, another of its projects, admitting that such "abuses have occurred" and promising reforms.

Founded in 2000, African Parks gained influence through partnerships with several African governments that entrusted it with managing national parks and reserves. The organization first entered Chad fifteen years ago, helping to reduce poaching in Zakouma National Park before expanding its operations. The latest rupture, however, indicates growing tensions between African-led environmental ministries and foreign conservation groups accused of operating without sufficient local oversight.