Rwanda has closed more than 4,000 churches over the past month. This is a major safety initiative for failing to meet health and safety standards. These closures primarily affected small Pentecostal churches and some mosques, many of which were operating in unconventional locations like caves or riverbanks. Minister of Local Government Jean Claude Musabyimana clarified that the goal is to ensure worshippers’ safety and peace, not to prevent them from praying.
Authorities are actively enforcing a law enacted five years ago to regulate the of places of worship for the first time. The law requires churches to operate in an organized and safe manner and bans loud public address systems. It also mandates theological training for preachers before they can open a church. When the law was introduced in 2018, about 700 churches were initially shut down.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who recently won a fourth term with 99% of the vote, stated that the country does not need so many houses of worship, arguing that such a high number is only sustainable in more developed economies. Critics say Kagame’s tightly controlled administration limits freedom of speech in the country.
Local urban authorities, in collaboration with the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), are currently carrying out the crackdown. Authorities argue that churches have had five years to comply with the regulations. RGB chief Usta Kayitesi pointed out issues like dilapidated structures and unhygienic conditions as reasons for the closures. Some churches were operating in tents, which posed safety risks to worshippers.
So far, 4,223 places of worship have been closed, including 427 located in caves, according to the Igihe news site. While most Rwandans are Christians, many also adhere to traditional practices.
Also read about: Nigerians Under 24-Hour Curfew: High-Cost of Living Protests
