Kribi II: Several Pentecostal Churches Sealed for Lack of Authorization

The Divisional Officer for Kribi II, Justin Hector Eto Fame, has, in recent days, ordered the closure of several evangelical churches in his area of jurisdiction.

The sealing notices posted on the doors of the establishments cite the same reason: “lack of an authorization decree”. Leaders of the affected religious communities have been invited to report to the Dombe DO’s Office to regularize their status.

The local operation is part of a nationwide campaign to regulate places of worship, launched on the instructions of the Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji.

The campaign was triggered by an incident on the night of June 27 to 28, when an 11-year-old girl was killed in Nkolndongo, Yaoundé IV Subdivision. The suspect, reportedly a member of a Pentecostal church, is alleged to have acted on the instructions of a “prophet” from her religious community.

The incident prompted the government in mid-July to announce the closure of nearly 1,400 churches considered non-compliant across the country.

Since then, several administrative authorities have launched similar operations, notably in Yaoundé V and Yaoundé VI, where hundreds of Pentecostal churches and evangelical movements have reportedly been closed for lacking presidential decrees authorizing them to operate.

In Kribi, several religious establishments, particularly in Kribi II, have had their doors padlocked and sealed. Administrative notices indicate that some were sealed on August 11 and others the following day.

The wave of closures, which has affected the South Region and several other parts of the country, has revived the recurring debate over the proliferation of so-called Pentecostal revival churches in Cameroon, which are often accused of exploiting the vulnerability of worshippers for financial gain.

The key question now is whether the measures, which were also implemented in 2025 but reportedly failed to produce lasting results, will this time lead to meaningful and sustainable regulation of the sector.