• Chad ends 15-year conservation deal with African Parks
• Government cites mistrust, poor cooperation, and rising poaching
• Split raises questions on Africa’s reliance on foreign conservation groups

The Chadian government said on Monday that it has ended its partnership with African Parks, the international conservation group whose board counts Prince Harry among its members.

African Parks said it had opened talks with the Environment Ministry to clarify the government’s position and determine how best to continue protecting the country’s key conservation areas.

The agreement, in place for about 15 years, covered the joint management of two major sites: the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the Greater Zakouma Ecosystem, which includes the Zakouma and Siniaka-Minia National Parks. Both are considered vital to Sahelian biodiversity and have long been seen as models of cooperation between a national government and international conservation partners.

Relations, however, have soured in recent years. In an official letter to the NGO, Chad’s Environment Ministry accused African Parks of letting mistrust and inefficiency set in, citing poor cooperation, disrespect toward national institutions, and declining effectiveness amid renewed poaching.

The breakup comes amid wider tensions between African Parks and several African governments. In Congo, the organization acknowledged earlier this year that its staff were involved in unspecified incidents but declined to release the findings of an independent investigation it commissioned.

Founded in 2000 and active in 12 countries, African Parks manages more than 20 million hectares of protected land across the continent. The end of its partnership with Chad has reignited debate over whether African states can sustainably manage their parks and reserves without heavy dependence on international NGOs.

Olivier de Souza