Cameroon’s Minister of Cults, Paul Atanga Nji, announced on July 8, 2026, the “imminent closure” of approximately 1,400 new churches across the nation. This decisive action, he explained, is a direct response to the “persistent irregularities” in their administrative status.
In 2024, the minister had previously mandated that all new churches register with his department. Many failed to comply, and Mr. Atanga Nji emphasized during a recent meeting with leaders of the “Vie et Paix” revival church that “the period of tolerance has now expired.” The minister had convened this particular meeting following a deeply disturbing incident in late June, where an 11-year-old girl was tragically murdered. A 22-year-old adherent of the “Vie et Paix” church fatally stabbed the child 17 times, claiming to have acted under divine instruction.
This horrific tragedy, which profoundly shocked the country, was preceded by another similar crime in March, involving an 11-year-old girl whose death occurred under unexplained circumstances.
The Cameroonian government has actively combated the proliferation of new religious groups within its borders since 2006. In 2008, authorities officially recognized 81 associations, Christian churches, and religious institutions, including 46 Protestant and Pentecostal denominations, all confirmed to be operating within legal frameworks.
Similar to other African nations, the rise of Christian sects in Cameroon surged notably after 1994. This phenomenon was fueled by the new law on freedom of association and the severe economic hardships brought about by the devaluation of the CFA franc. This economic downturn created significant difficulties for African countries, often pushing vulnerable populations into the arms of various charismatic preachers.
As recently as 2025, the Cameroonian government had already ordered the closure of nearly 200 new church worship sites, primarily citing excessive noise disturbances. At that time, unregistered new churches were explicitly warned to “begin closing down and packing up.”
