Tim Cooke-Hurle and Jelia Sané complete independent investigation into allegations of human rights abuses at Odzala-Kokoua National Park in Congo

Tim Cooke-Hurle and Jelia Sané have completed a 17-month investigation into allegations of human rights violations by ecoguards against local communities, including indigenous populations, occurring in or connected to Odzala-Kokoua National Park, a protected area in the Republic of Congo. Tim Cooke-Hurle and Jelia Sané were instructed by and investigated with Omnia Strategy LLP.

The investigation was commissioned by African Parks, a non-profit conservation organisation that uses a public-private model for the management of the National Park. It was commissioned following claims of human rights abuses communicated by Survival International, an NGO. The incidents investigated involved allegations of torture or other ill-treatment (including rape), unlawful killing and arbitrary arrest and detention.

The investigation has now concluded. Its findings and recommendations have been provided to the Board of African Parks. 

Omnia’s statement on the investigation is available here.

African Parks’ press release on the investigation is available here and their full response to the investigation is available here.

Tim Cooke-Hurle is a recognised expert in business and human rights law and led the investigation of organisational human rights compliance. Jelia Sané practices in international criminal and human rights law and led the investigation’s engagement with vulnerable potential witnesses and victims. Tim and Jelia participated in seven field missions during this investigation, which heard from around 180 stakeholders and involved systematic document collection and review in respect of allegations corresponding to 21 incidents.