Massive closure of revivalist churches in Cameroon: Fight against abuses and illegalities

A large-scale operation against illegal churches

The Cameroonian authorities have launched a vast operation to close so-called revivalist churches, accused of operating without official authorization. Only structures that have obtained a presidential decree are legally recognized. This measure is part of the fight against abuses reported within these religious communities, notably cases of extortion of the faithful.

In Yaoundé, the capital, the Yaoundé 4 district was particularly hard hit by this wave of closures. 188 places of worship have been sealed off, provoking indignation among the faithful. Rosine Ndzana, one of the faithful, expresses her dismay:

“These churches bring us comfort. A lot of Cameroonians rely on them to stand firm in the face of difficulties. Without them, my family and I would be lost.”

Churches accused of nuisance and administrative fraud

The Ministry of Territorial Administration, in collaboration with the intelligence services and local authorities, carried out in-depth investigations before taking action.

The main reasons for closure include :

• Excessive noise pollution, leading to repeated complaints from local residents.
• Fraudulent use of presidential decrees for authorized churches, in return for monthly payments of between 50,000 and 100,000 CFA francs.
• Illegal outsourcing of religious status, with pastors selling their official documents to other preachers.

“We found that some pastors were using another church’s presidential decree in return for payment – a real administrative mess,” says Elvis Akondi Mbahangwen, sub-prefect of Yaoundé 4.

A stricter framework for religious worship in Cameroon

The phenomenon of revivalist churches has grown strongly in recent years, with a proliferation of chapels and parishes. In Yaoundé 4 alone, 615 churches have been counted.

Faced with these administrative abuses and sectarian aberrations, the government intends to strengthen regulation of the religious sector.

Conclusion

The massive closure of illegal churches in Cameroon illustrates the authorities’ determination to regulate a rapidly expanding religious landscape. While this measure aims to protect the faithful from dubious practices, it has also provoked mixed reactions, with some seeing it as an attack on freedom of worship. The challenge remains to strike a balance between compliance with administrative rules and freedom of worship.