The government of Cameroon in August ordered the closure of dozens of churches in an attempt to put an end to what it considers to be anarchy among some Christian organisations.
The measure, which authorities began to impose on August 23, targets Pentecostal churches, which are not officially recognised.
The minister of communications, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, said on August 28 that the churches engage in ‘unhealthy’ and ‘indecent’ practices contrary to the goal of spiritual growth of the people. He also denounced ‘obvious cases of extortion of people in desperate situations’, ‘repeat nocturnal uproars’ and ‘proselytising’. ‘In such a situation… the government could not remain indifferent and inactive’, he said.
About ten churches have had their doors locked in Yaoundé, the capital. In Bamenda, the main town in the northwest, which houses a high proportion of the country’s Christians, some 20 churches have been affected. In total, 35 churches were closed across the country, according to Bakary.
Approval sought
Pastor Naida Lazare, President of Cameroon’s Christian Media Network, said that several churches had sought government approval for more than ten years, but received no response.
Cameroon is a secular country in Central Africa. Almost 80% of its 20 million people are Christians. Freedom of worship and religion is guaranteed by the constitution, reinforced by Act No. 90/053 of December 19 1990, regulating religious organisations. This law stipulates that the exercise of religious worship should be subject to the approval of the minister of interior affairs, and authorisation by the president.
Since the 1990 law, Pentecostal organisations in the country have experienced remarkable growth. Dozens of churches, which often have links in neighbouring Nigeria, settled in the country. Such rapid growth has come at the expense of historical churches such as the Catholic Church, which has seen a great number of its followers join Pentecostal movements. These Pentecostal churches are renowned for their dynamism and ability to mobilise crowds.
Bishop Dieudonné Abogo, President of the Pentecostal Union of Cameroon, acknowledged that some churches are rowdy. ‘The use of loud music during services may cause real disturbance to neighbourhoods in some areas’, said Abogo. ‘This causes great damage to the reputation of officially recognised churches.’
