Rwanda: Massive church closures: security concerns

A new wave of church closures has hit Rwanda, dealing a major blow to religious freedom in the country. Last Friday, 185 places of worship, mostly Pentecostal churches, had to close in the northern Musanze district of the country.

The radical decision came after a state inspection found numerous violations of safety and building standards, with authorities saying the churches were in a state of disrepair, lacked sanitary facilities and had electrical hazards, posing a significant risk to the lives of worshippers.

The Church respects a certain number of standards

Rwanda’s Minister of Local Government, Jean Claude Musabyimana, insisted that the closures were not aimed at limiting religious freedom but at guaranteeing the safety of citizens. He recalled that places of worship must comply with a certain number of standards, such as registering with the authorities, implementing soundproofing measures or training worshippers. missionary.

This large-scale action is part of a more general regulatory policy in the religious sector. RwandaIn 2018, more than 700 churches were closed for the same reason. In fact, the Rwandan government believes that the proliferation of churches, especially Pentecostal churches, has led to social divisions and encouraged the emergence of sometimes problematic religious practices.

How to support believers who have been deprived of their places of worship

church PentecostalCharacterised by an often very expressive style of worship and promises of healing and prosperity, cults have experienced considerable growth in Africa in recent years. While they meet deep spiritual needs for many people, they also raise questions about their impact on society and the mental health of followers.

Rwandan authorities gave churches five years to comply with the current legislation. Unfortunately, many places of worship did not comply with this deadline, so tougher measures were imposed. The closure of churches has caused a strong reaction among the Rwandan population, especially within the Pentecostal community. It remains to be seen how the government will support believers who have been deprived of their places of worship.