Prince Harry is facing renewed calls to step down from his leadership role at an African wildlife charity after its rangers were accused of raping and torturing indigenous people.

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. 

The charity has admitted that human rights abuses were perpetrated by its own rangers against Baka people local to Odzala-Kokoua national park in the Republic of the Congo following an explosive investigation by the Mail on Sunday.

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

But he has again been urged to resign after indigenous rights charity Survival International alleged this week that abuses by African Parks were ongoing in the country.

African Parks admitted last year that 'human rights abuses have occurred, and we deeply regret the pain and suffering that these have caused to the victims'.

It commited to improving partnerships with Congolese human rights groups, developing a 'bespoke remedy framework' and said staff members implicated in the incidents were 'adequately dealt with'.

But Survival International said those linked with the charity were continuing to perpetuate abuses.

It claimed 'the problems on the ground have not been solved' and criticised the Duke of Sussex for attending a fundraising event in Arizona for the organisation.  

A leader of the Baka community told Survival International: 'We don't work with them. The way the African Parks treat us here is violent.' 

The community leader added: 'African Parks… want to make us disappear.' 

Caroline Pearce, director of Survival International, said: 'It is outrageous to see Harry's continued support to African Parks despite the horrific human rights abuses committed by its rangers against the Baka.' 

African Parks has also received funding from the British government and the EU.   

Last year an investigation by the MoS 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 findings were 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.

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.   

A spokesperson for African Parks said: 'Over the past several years, African Parks has made substantial and sustained investment in human rights safeguards in Odzala-Kokoua national park.

'This has included the establishment of a fully operational grievance and redress mechanism, three independent human rights NGO partners providing trusted reporting channels for local communities around the park, and an independent panel of eminent African judges and human rights specialists who oversee the grievance mechanism, including the handling of all serious grievances.' 

A spokesperson for Prince Harry has been contacted for comment.