- Authorities closed 200 churches in Yaoundé’s 4th subdivision, out of 615 there
- Only 47 churches are registered nationwide in Cameroon
- Registration requires presidential approval, and none has been granted since 2020
- The minister had warned unregistered churches to regularise in December 2024
Authorities in Cameroon closed 200 churches in Yaoundé’s 4th subdivision, out of 615 operating there, Mimi Mefo Info reported on February 27, 2025, in a report by Njong Shey.
The closures followed a December 2024 warning from Paul Atanga Nji, Minister of Territorial Administration, that unregistered churches must regularise their situation or face closure. Elvis Akondji, the Yaoundé 4th divisional officer, carried out the closures. Only 47 churches are registered nationwide, the last registration was in 2020, and the process requires presidential approval.
According to the local newspaper Mutation, the sealed churches face accusations of “mystical practices and financial exploitation of the faithful.” Public reaction was mixed. “Thank you, Mr. Minister. The earlier you react to this issue of churches, the better,” said Gerald Kenkoh, a Bamenda resident. Others questioned the government’s priorities.
For the closed congregations, their places of worship are now sealed.
Jamaica does not require churches to obtain government approval to operate, but church buildings still need proper approvals, and churches benefit from registration as charities. Cameroon’s crackdown shows how quickly unregistered congregations can lose access to their premises. Jamaican churches should keep their legal registration, building approvals and lease documents in order.
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