Cameroon’s Minister of Cults, Paul Atanga Nji, announced on July 8, 2026, the forthcoming closure of 1,400 nascent churches across the nation. He cited “persistent administrative irregularities” as the primary reason for this decisive action.
In 2024, the Minister had issued a directive requiring all new churches to register with his department. A significant number have yet to comply. Speaking during a meeting with leaders of “Vie et Paix,” one such revival church, Minister Atanga Nji emphasized that “the period of tolerance has now ended.” This meeting followed the tragic murder of an 11-year-old girl in late June, perpetrated by a worshipper from the “Vie et Paix” congregation. The young girl succumbed to 17 stab wounds inflicted by a 22-year-old woman, who claimed to have acted under the instruction of the Holy Spirit, according to information from the Ministry’s website.
This shocking incident, which deeply affected the country, was preceded by a similar crime in March, involving another 11-year-old girl. The motives behind that earlier tragedy were not publicly disclosed.
The Cameroonian government has been actively addressing the rapid proliferation of new churches since 2006. By 2008, it had officially recognized 81 Christian associations, churches, and religious institutions, including 46 Protestant and Pentecostal denominations, all operating within legal frameworks.
Much like other African nations, Cameroon has witnessed a significant surge in Christian sects since 1994. This growth was fueled by a law promoting freedom of association and exacerbated by the devaluation of the CFA franc. The economic hardships resulting from this devaluation pushed vulnerable populations towards various preachers and their movements.
In 2025, the Cameroonian government previously closed nearly 200 new church premises, primarily due to excessive noise pollution. At that time, unregistered new churches were explicitly warned to “begin closing down and packing up.”
