Harry and Meghan are expected in New York tomorrow at a mental health gala where they will be recognised as ‘humanitarians of the year’.

However, the event’s significance is diminished by a serious letter from Chad’s government, criticizing a charity closely associated with the Duke. 

Hassan Bakhit Djamous, Chad’s environment minister, has alleged financial mismanagement and ‘disrespect’ by African Parks, an organization where Harry serves as a board member.

In a harsh four-page correspondence, Mr. Djamous stated that African Parks has repeatedly shown ‘an indelicate and disrespectful attitude’ toward his government.

The charity, of which Harry was president for six years before he joining its board in 2023, looks after more than 20 protected national parks and reserves in 13 countries on behalf of their governments.

Its backers include famous billionaire investors Warren Buffet and Bill Ackman, and it counts the EU, WWF and People’s Postcode Lottery among its supporters. 

But Mr Djamous has accused it of illegally collecting tourist revenues, using tax-sheltering bank accounts in the Isle of Man and transferring assets abroad in ‘flagrant violation’ of Chad’s banking laws.

He further claimed there had been a resurgence in poaching and a lack of investment at reserves managed by the conservation group.

The Duke of Sussex has been contacted for comment on the claims – a day before he and Meghan arrive in New York for Project Healthy Minds’ World Mental Health Day Festival at the flashy Spring Studios venue.

Harry and Meghan are set to be recognised as ‘humanitarians’ by a mental health initiative they have supported on several occasions this week (pictured at a 2023 World Mental Health Day event organised by Project Healthy Minds)

The pair will be recognised by Project Healthy Minds – with whom their charity, Archewell, has collaborated extensively (pictured: the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at a World Mental Health Day event organised by both bodies)

Prince Harry (pictured 2019) was African Park’s President for six years until being elevated to the governing board of directors in 2023. He is said to have been fully involved in plans to change the charity

At the ceremony, they will be feted for their ‘meaningful contributions to advancing mental wellbeing worldwide’ including with young people – having collaborated extensively with Project Healthy Minds, who is giving out the award, in the past.

In a joint statement, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: ‘Working with families and young people to prioritize safety online has been some of the most meaningful work of our lives. 

‘As parents ourselves, we have been moved to action by the power of their stories and are honored to support them.

‘We’re proud to be long-time partners of Project Healthy Minds as we work together to shine a light on what remains one of the most pressing issues of our time.’

Project Healthy Minds founder and CEO Phillip Schermer, a former high-flyer at investment firm Blackrock – called it a “privilege” to be able to honor the couple.

And it comes just days after Meghan made a surprise appearance at Paris Fashion Week, turning heads as she rubbed shoulders with Anna Wintour and Baz Luhrmann at a Balenciaga runway event. 

Harry is understood to have stayed home to look after their children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lillibet, four.

But the African Parks scandal may loom at the back of the Duke’s mind – coming soon after his very public departure from children’s charity Sentebale after a dispute with chair Dr. Sophie Chandauka, who called his personal brand ‘toxic’.

She remains in post. A Charity Commission probe earlier this year found no evidence of ‘widespread bullying or harassment’ as she had claimed, but criticised the organisation for lacking proper processes to report allegations of misconduct.

Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho walked away from children’s charity Sentebale earlier this year

The charity’s chair, Dr Sophie Chandauka, had made claims of bullying and harassment that were later not found to be proved

The Duke of Sussex, while he worked in Malawi with African Parks as part of an initiative involving moving 500 elephants over 200 miles across the country in 2016

The Chad scandal is the latest issue to befall African Parks after a Mail investigation found evidence that guards managed by the NGO were embarking on campaigns of abuse and intimidation. 

Allegations of abuse of indigenous people were upheld earlier this year following an independent investigation, the results of which African Parks has not published.

And the Duke, 41, has not spoken out on either those claims or the latest allegations made by the Chadian government. 

He did, however, attend an African Parks event in September 2024, several months after human rights abuses came to light. 

African Parks said in a statement it was in talks to ‘better understand the government’s position’ and ‘explore the best way forward to support the continued protection of these critical landscapes’.

‘African Parks will continue to keep its partners and stakeholders informed, as further clarity is obtained,’ the charity said.

It had led anti-poaching efforts and to restore elephant populations at the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve and the Greater Zakouma Ecosystem, which includes the Zakouma and Siniaka-Minia national parks.

According to African Parks, the elephant population at Zakouma National Parks increased from 450 in 2010, when it took over management of the site, to over 550 by 2019.

African Parks has helped to relocate critically endangered animals such as black rhinos (pictured) away from zones of poaching – but has been accused of not properly resourcing anti-poaching activities in Chad

The Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve in Chad (pictured) was one of several managed by African Parks on behalf of the Chadian government

Zakouma National Park, home to a large elephant population, was managed by African Parks until Chad ended the deal

It comes just six months after Chad renewed its agreement with the charity – off the back of shocking findings following a probe into allegations of human rights abuses by staff linked to African Parks.

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, then went directly to African Parks. It did not publicly share the results.

The charity said in a statement in May: ‘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.’

The Mail has contacted the Government of Chad and the Duke of Sussex for further comment. African Parks declined to comment further when approached.