By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
The Ministry of Territorial Administration (MINAT) has warned of tough times ahead for churches operating illegally in the country. Territorial Administration Minister Paul Atanga Nji issued this warning on December 10 during a press conference aimed at clarifying the recent ban on NGOs and associations.
In his statement, Minister Atanga Nji stressed, “The undeclared churches that spring up at every street corner are urged to get their affairs in order.”
He reiterated that to operate legally, these churches must obtain high-level authorization from the President of the Republic; otherwise, they will face legal consequences.
This warning follows the rapid increase in the number of Pentecostal churches that have emerged throughout various neighborhoods, all in the name of praising God. Daily, new churches are established on the streets of Cameroon.
Many residents in Yaoundé have welcomed this move, noting the need for regulation, as some individuals exploit the situation for personal gain.
One city dweller remarked, “I think the government has been slow to address this issue. The growth of churches is becoming problematic. People just wake up and create churches. It’s important for the government to take action.”
Peter Chi, a motorcycle taxi rider, added, “Some individuals are using churches to engage in unethical practices. The government needs to step in to control this. Many families have been affected, while Christians are becoming poorer.”
Some Christians have expressed concern that certain individuals create their own churches and then seek licenses to operate under existing authorized churches.
Sources indicate that in Cameroon, fewer than 50 churches have received authorization from the Presidency to operate, despite the country having hundreds of churches, with many more being established.
The last significant government crackdown on churches occurred in 2013 when the Presidency ordered the closure of nearly 100 Pentecostal churches in major cities, including the capital, Yaoundé, and the North West Regional capital, Bamenda.
The government justified these actions by citing security threats posed by criminal activities associated with some Pentecostal pastors. However, many Pentecostal leaders argued that this crackdown reflected President Biya’s insecurity regarding the churches’ criticisms of the government.
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