Latest news with #Baka
IOL News
21-05-2025
- General
- IOL News
What the Baka of Cameroon can teach the world about living in harmony with the forest
Cut trees in a forest More than 100 countries promised to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by the end of 2030, underpinned by $19bn in public and private funds to invest in protecting and restoring forests. Image: Pixabay The Congo Basin's hunter-gatherer people have the secret to living well with the forest. While doing fieldwork in 2020, I remember walking with Indigenous elders Ferdinand Mbita and Félix Mangombe up the small, winding path into their forest in Cameroon, jumping over highways of vicious black ants, shadowed by grand trees. We almost always encountered monkeys chattering when venturing down this path. Once we came across the prints of a gorilla. This path, near the Dja river in the south region of Cameroon, lay next to the small village of Bemba. The village folk, Baka hunter-gatherers, used the path regularly to find forest medicines, work on their farm plots, or to embark on fishing or hunting trips. When I returned to Cameroon to stay again in the village a year later, the path was unrecognisable. The dense vegetation had been stripped away, trees cut, rivers restricted. The path was now an industrial road, developed by a logging company with permission from the government to chop down trees in a large area behind the village for a year. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Inspecting the damage, Mbita and Mangombe noticed how trees they used for medicine and the places where they'd found honey had been transformed into scarred, muddy earth. We used to see animal tracks here; now the only tracks we could see were those of logging trucks. 'The Baka are dead,' Mbita said, taking in what he was seeing. This story is not unique. At least 40% of Cameroon's forests have been allocated for logging. Add to that concessions also granted to mining companies, sport hunting companies and big agro-industry. They have cut down forests and set up rubber and palm oil plantations. The social and environmental effects have been devastating. I lived in the Baka village of Bemba in south-eastern Cameroon for long periods between 2019 and 2021. It is a small village of 70 people. The Baka number around 40,000 in total. They are one of many forest-dependent communities in the region, but are the only hunter-gatherers. Initially a lot of time had to be spent on building trust so that I was sure the community could understand and agree to my research, which aimed to understand the community's relationship to the forest and conservation. Over time, I learned the Baka language. I went with people on their fishing, hunting and gathering trips, ate with them, joined in ceremonies and discussed their relationship to the forest. Through this process their worlds opened up to me. The damage of conservation Conservation schemes can cause devastating social and environmental impacts. Of Cameroon's 54 conservation parks and their peripheries, 70% have been associated with forced displacement of people living in the area. So-called 'conservation refugees' have also been created because their land has been turned into a conservation area. (There has not yet been a study into how many 'conservation refugees' there are in Cameroon.) When communities are physically and psychologically severed from the forests with which they have lived for so long, this can lead to poverty and alcoholism. It sets a path for people to fall into environmentally damaging activities such as wildlife trafficking or damaging biodiversity. There is a gradual shift across the world towards bottom-up strategies to sustain forests, where those who live in the landscapes remain major players in how they are protected. Unfortunately, this collaboration is often done badly, with big organisations or governments trying to retain control over designing and implementing projects. Relating to the forest Since at least the 1980s, logging concessions, a large sport hunting zone, and the Dja protected conservation area have restricted the Baka people of Bemba's access to their forest. Yet, they have maintained a strong relationship with it, and the forest is still the foundation of their identity. They believe the Baka were created with the forest. They interact with it constantly through their livelihoods, and engage with forest spirits and the spirits of ancestors who roam the forest. This close relationship informs how the Baka use forest resources and sustain the forest in the long term. For example, they do not believe that trees or animals should be left untouched unless given permission. Nor that they should give thanks or give back for what they take. They believe the ultimate way to achieve joy is through sharing. Elders told us: If the forest is shared properly, everyone will live well. As they consider themselves as a part of the forest, the well-being of people is no different from the well-being of the forest. Sharing should take place with other people, forest spirits and animals, but also with ancestors and future generations. Non-material things such as laughter and ceremonies are also actively shared. Baka often see logging, sport hunting and conservation as destructive because they take timber, animals and land excessively and do not share. These activities are regarded as an existential threat, given that the Baka people cannot envisage life without the forest. Sharing the forest The lesson to learn from the Baka is that conservation should not be centred on achieving biodiversity targets, or capturing a certain amount of carbon. A forest is a social landscape. Responsible sharing of resources and of benefits between all those who use the forest protects the whole system.
Newsweek
12-05-2025
- Newsweek
Prince Harry Urged to Quit Charity Where Abuse Allegations Were Upheld
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Prince Harry should "step down" from the board of a conservation charity after a law firm found evidence human rights abuses had taken place. African Parks manages Odzala-Kokoua National Park but the Baka tribespeople, who have lived in the area for generations, say its rangers have abused them. Allegations included the rape of a mother as she clutched her baby, as well as torture, and triggered an investigation by Omnia Strategy. The law firm has now reported its findings to the NGO, which confirmed in an online statement that human rights abuses by guards did take place. Prince Harry is seen at the Concordia Summit, in New York City, on September 23, 2024. During the trip he attended an African Parks event. Prince Harry is seen at the Concordia Summit, in New York City, on September 23, 2024. During the trip he attended an African Parks Mazower, communications director at Survival International, told Newsweek: "We think that Prince Harry and anyone else involved in African Parks should either commit the organization to a completely new way of doing business or step down." Survival wants the organization to pursue conservation in a fundamentally different way. African Parks Acknowledges Abuses The organization's statement, published online, read: "African Parks acknowledges that, in some incidents, human rights abuses have occurred, and we deeply regret the pain and suffering that these have caused to the victims. "Omnia's process also highlighted several failures of our systems and processes that were insufficient for the level of responsibility given to us, particularly in the early years of our management of Odzala. "We are committed to addressing the shortcomings that have been identified. Further, where sufficient evidence is available, we will take action against staff members implicated in incidents not yet known about, or that had not been adequately dealt with. "The Board is confident that the institutional improvements implemented over the past five years, along with those planned for the coming months—incorporating valuable recommendations from Omnia—will mitigate risks in the future." The statement, however, did not confirm which abuses were admitted by the organization, meaning it remains unclear whether they are acknowledging that Baka people were allegedly raped by African Parks guards. "There's a moral obligation on them to make the results of the investigation public," Mazower said, "and I think it's shameful that they haven't." "We would hope that anyone who is funding African Parks will think again," he added. Newsweek reached out to African Parks for comment. African Parks and 'Fortress Conservation' Currently, rangers are required to keep the Baka out of areas of the park that are considered protected, which the tribespeople say prevents them hunting and foraging for food in keeping with their culture dating back centuries. The charity says this is necessary to protect the park as a natural resource for future generations but Survival call it "fortress conservation" and say it is leaving the Baka starving. "It's a whole model of conservation which is based around taking indigenous people's land, turning them into protected areas, evicting the indigenous people and keeping them out through force," Mazower said. "They've been living with this treatment, as have many other indigenous communities, for years and years. This is not a one off thing or an isolated incident. "There have been countless confirmed reports of similar abuses by armed rangers against indigenous people who have been evicted from their lands after their lands were turned into national parks across the Congo basin for years. "You only have to go there and talk to the Baka people and stories start pouring out of people, so I doubt very much that they have any expectation that anything significant will change. And I don't think it will change unless the Baka are allowed to go back to their lands." Prince Harry's New York Visit Harry has not sought to distance himself from the organization since the allegations of rape and torture first emerged publicly in January 2024. In fact, he attended an African Parks event during a visit to New York in September and his staff posted a write up on the Sussex website talking about it. "He [Harry] expressed how this pivotal moment further fueled his commitment to the continent as well as his passion for Africa's rich biodiversity and cultural heritage," the website reads. "The Duke connected African Parks' mission to his broader philanthropic vision, highlighting how their strategic approach aligns with his goals for sustainable change. "He emphasized the importance of collaboration and investment in conservation efforts, noting that protecting Africa's natural resources is essential for both the environment and the livelihoods of local communities. "The event served not only as a celebration of African Parks' impactful work across 22 protected areas in 12 countries but also as a rallying call to join this vital mission. The Duke's participation underscored the urgency of the conservation challenges facing the continent and the need for collective action." Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page. Do you have a question about Charles and Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Kate, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@ We'd love to hear from you.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Prince Harry-linked charity African Parks admits to human rights abuses in Congo
AP photo African Parks , a non-profit organisation that manages protected areas in Africa, has admitted to human rights abuses under its watch in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park in the Republic of the Congo, reported New York Post. The charity, which had Prince Harry as its president until 2023 and still counts him as a board member, acknowledged incidents of abuse, including rape and torture, committed by park rangers. The abuses came to light following a detailed investigation earlier this year. In response, the charity commissioned a London-based law firm to conduct an independent review. The firm noted systemic failures within African Parks, especially in the early years of its operations. African Parks has accepted the findings, saying, 'In some incidents, human rights abuses have occurred, and we deeply regret the pain and suffering that these have caused to the victims.' Operation Sindoor 'Did not want to...': Pak def min gives absurd excuse for army's failure to withstand Op Sindoor Blackouts, sirens & Pak's failed attacks: 10 things that happened in the last 36 hrs '1971 war was not remotely as terrifying': Residents of border areas shell-shocked The organisation also admitted to serious failures in its internal systems and promised to act on the recommendations. Prince Harry charity 'admits human rights abuses after claims rangers RAPED locals' Reforms reportedly include stronger safeguarding protocols and the appointment of an anthropologist to improve support for the Baka communities , who have long been marginalised. However, African Parks has refused to make the full report public. This has led to criticism from the indigenous rights charities. The development adds to growing scrutiny of Prince Harry's philanthropic work. In March, Harry stepped down as patron of Sentebale, a charity he co-founded in honour of Princess Diana. Soon after, Sentebale's chairwoman accused the board of 'harassment' and 'bullying,' and claimed the Duke attempted to use the charity to boost his wife, Meghan Markle's public image.
New York Post
09-05-2025
- New York Post
Charity linked to Prince Harry admits to human rights abuse after damning investigation
A charity with ties to Prince Harry has owned up to multiple human rights abuses carried out by its park rangers. African Parks — a non-profit conservation organization that had the Duke of Sussex as its president from 2017 until 2023 — admitted to several violations that took place in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park. A damning investigation published earlier this year exposed myriad of abuses against indigenous people in the Republic of the Congo — including rape and torture. Advertisement 5 Prince Harry served as president of African Parks from 2017 to 2023. Getty Images Following an in-depth review, London-based law firm Omnia Strategy LLP, helmed by Cherie Blair, has released a statement about the shocking findings. The law firm described its probe as 'thorough and proportionate without attempting to be exhaustive.' Advertisement The charity, for its part, formally acknowledged the findings — saying that 'in some incidents, human rights abuses have occurred.' 'The board of African Parks has reviewed Omnia's advice and endorsed the management plan and timeframes to implement the recommendations resulting from this process,' the charity, which boasts Harry as one of its board members, said in a statement. 'African Parks acknowledges that, in some incidents, human rights abuses have occurred, and we deeply regret the pain and suffering that these have caused to the victims.' 5 African Parks admitted to several violations that took place in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park. Universal Images Group via Getty Images Advertisement 'Omnia's process also highlighted several failures of our systems and processes that were insufficient for the level of responsibility given to us, particularly in the early years,' the organization added, fessing up to to systemic failures. The organization said it has significantly strengthened its safeguarding protocols over the past five years across all its sites, including Odzala-Kokoua National Park. Among the reforms is the appointment of an anthropologist tasked with ensuring the Baka communities receive more effective support. Despite admitting to the findings, African Parks has withheld the full review from the public, raising questions about transparency. Advertisement 5 The organization now boasts the Duke of Sussex, 40, as one of its board members. WireImage It's understood that the Invictus Games founder, 40, has been closely briefed on the review's findings. The Post has reached out to Harry's reps for comment. The development follows earlier concerns raised by Survival International — a charity advocating for Indigenous rights — over the treatment of Baka communities. Caroline Pearce, who heads up the group, criticized African Parks' decision to refrain from publishing the review's full findings. 'We still don't know the details of what they found, because African Parks has refused to allow the findings to be made public,' Pearce said in a statement. 5 Prince Harry pictured with the president of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, in 2022. paulkagame/Instagram 'The root of the problem is that African Parks continues to cling to a racist and colonial model of conservation, which kicks out the indigenous people whose land it is, while outsiders take control.' Advertisement 'As long as this is the case, the Baka will continue to face abuses and the destruction of their livelihoods,' she added. The duke has faced a turbulent year in his philanthropic work, with his other charity, Sentebale, also coming under scrutiny in a separate damning investigation in recent weeks. Start your day with all you need to know Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters In March, it emerged that Harry had sensationally quit as patron of the African charity he kick-started in honor of his late mother, Princess Diana, in 2006. Advertisement The 'Spare' author said he was devastated and 'in shock' to have stepped down from Sentebale, the organization that he co-founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho. Days later, Sentebale chairwoman Chandauka raised alarming allegations and accused the charity's board of 'harassment,' 'bullying' and 'misogynoir.' 5 It's understood that the Invictus Games founder has been closely briefed on the review's findings. Getty Images Advertisement The trustee, who became leader of the organization in 2023, also claimed Harry had tried to use the charity as 'an extension of the Sussex PR machine' to support his wife's public image. As a result, the organization — which was set up to help AIDS patients in Africa — is now being investigated by the Charity Commission.
Daily Mail
09-05-2025
- Daily Mail
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 - but is not making the findings on the atrocities public - following an explosive investigation by the Mail on Sunday. Prince Harry, who was the president of African Parks for six years until being elevated to the governing board of directors two years ago, is said be fully aware of the scandal and 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 Harry 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. African Parks then launched an independent review and the charity has now admitted that human rights abuses occurred in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park since December 2023. The results of the probe, carried out by London law firm Omnia Strategy LLP, has gone directly to African Parks. The charity said in a statement: 'The board of African Parks has reviewed Omnia's advice and endorsed the management plan and timeframes to implement the recommendations resulting from this process. 'African Parks acknowledges that, in some incidents, human rights abuses have occurred, and we deeply regret the pain and suffering that these have caused to the victims. 'Omnia's process also highlighted several failures of our systems and processes that were insufficient for the level of responsibility given to us, particularly in the early years of our management of Odzala.' Omnia said its investigation has been 'thorough and proportionate without attempting to be exhaustive'. But there is anger that the findings have not been made public. Survival International, which supports indigenous people, has reportedly raised the abuse of the Baka people with Prince Harry. Director Caroline Pearce said: 'We still don't know the details of what they found, because African Parks has refused to allow the findings to be made public. 'It has committed to more reports, more staff and more guidelines, but such approaches have not prevented horrific abuses and violations of international human rights law in the decade or more that African Parks has known of these atrocities, and there is no reason to believe they will do so now.' African Parks was rocked by scandal in January 2024 when the Mail on Sunday went to Congo and discovered horrific abuses by its guards. It was the middle of the night when young mother Ella Ene was abruptly woken by someone knocking at her house. She assumed it was her husband returning from a neighbouring village – but it was a guard from the African Parks conservation charity demanding she got up immediately and followed him. 'The guy was wearing their uniform and had a gun,' said Ella Ene. 'He was threatening me, saying 'I'll shoot you' if I did not do as he said. He told me he wanted to take me to their camp.' She bundled up her baby Daniel – one month old and too young to leave at home – to follow the African Parks guard on the ten-minute walk to his base. With brutal but brave honesty, she described what happened next, and how the man raped her beside the road as she clung in terror to her child. She said the guard ordered her to the ground, tore off some of her clothes and assaulted her in the pitch-black night, ignoring her screams for help and the cries of her baby. 'I was holding my baby while being raped and trying to protect him,' she said. 'My first reaction had been to protect my baby. It was very violent.' The fast-expanding charity manages huge swathes of forests and national parks in 12 African countries in partnerships with governments, and boasts that it saves wildlife by working with local communities. One man, who claims his head was forced under water while his hands were cuffed and his back whipped repeatedly with a belt, said: 'Some guards are bad people and their activities should be stopped. What they are doing is cruel and inhumane.' A community activist told the MoS a Baka man died after being beaten and jailed without getting treatment for his injuries. 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. There are claims that medical staff were subjected to intimidation to cover up abuse. The raped mother also says she has not received the majority of the £1,300 compensation a court ordered her attacker to pay after he was briefly jailed. The disturbing revelations came as Prince Harry was promoting his global mission as a social justice campaigner and fighter for equality. The weekend before the Mail on Sunday's investigation emerged, his leading role with African Parks was championed when he was given a Living Legends of Aviation award as 'a humanitarian, military veteran and mental wellness advocate' at a ceremony in Los Angeles. A citation praised him as an 'environmentalist', saying he 'has dedicated his life to advancing causes that he is passionate about and that bring about permanent change for people and places... including African Parks.' But one Baka man who says he witnessed a brutal attack by African Parks guards told the MoS that he wished Harry would use his power to intervene in order to 'stop the pain and suffering caused to our community'. Harry, who has said Africa is the place 'where I feel more like myself than anywhere else in the world', announced his appointment as president of the charity around eight years ago while guest-editing BBC Radio 4's Today programme. His involvement began with a trip to Malawi to assist an elephant project in 2016 and his role changed last autumn when he joined the charity's board of directors. 'What I see in the African Parks model is exactly what conservation should be about – putting people at the heart of the solution,' he has said. 'Conservation can only be sustained when people living closest to nature are invested in its preservation.' When we put the findings of our investigation to Harry, a spokesman for his foundation, Archewell, said: 'When the Duke became aware of these serious allegations, he immediately escalated them to the CEO and chairman of the board of African Parks, the appropriate people to handle next steps.' Harry was warned about 'appalling human rights abuses' being committed by its rangers in a letter from Survival International, a campaign group fighting for the rights of indigenous people, in May 2023. The letter stated: 'The scale and volume of violent intimidation and torture make clear that this is not aberrant behaviour by a few individuals.' It called on the Prince 'to use your influence and position to stop these abuses being committed by an organisation to which you have lent your name' – and was backed by a direct video appeal to Harry and Meghan from a Baka tribesman. The Baka communities live in Odzala-Kokoua National Park, an area of rainforest bigger than Yorkshire that is home to gorillas and forest elephants. One Baka man said: 'The forest was left to us by our parents and ancestors. Everything we have is found in the forest – our food, our medicine. We suffer so much without it. They are destroying our heritage and our people.' The park has been managed by African Parks since 2010, when it signed a 25-year deal with the Congolese government. The charity is funded by the European Union, US and rich philanthropists. It has been given British aid and the People's Postcode Lottery, based in Edinburgh, has handed it £8.2 million since 2015.
