Population

28,608,000

Religion

Christianity, (60.7%), but Muslims dominate the North and Adamaoua Provinces

Christians

17,647,000

Prayer points

  • The Anglophone crisis has displaced over 500,000 Christians. Pray for comfort and provision for the displaced and hosts, and wisdom for sustainable solutions.

  • Youth face limited education and job access due to violence. Pray for Church-led discipleship and guidance to help them resist radicalization.

  • Violence disrupts Christian activities in the Northwest and Southwest, with churches attacked. Pray for restoration of safe worship spaces.

  • Peaceful Christian-Muslim relations are strained by radicalization. Pray for the Church to foster love and reconciliation while sharing the Gospel.

  • Cameroon’s long-standing rule under President Biya faces corruption and instability. Pray for transparent, democratic governance protecting all citizens.

  • Boko Haram and separatists target Christians with impunity. Pray their resources are cut off and many encounter the Gospel and turn to Christ.

Politics

State of Religious Freedom

The situation in Cameroon is becoming increasingly perilous for Christians, particularly in the northern regions, where radicalization is escalating among significant Muslim populations. Conversion from Islam to Christianity is fraught with extreme danger. Owning Christian literature, like Bibles, can elicit threats and even violence, forcing many converts to practice their faith clandestinely. Female converts are especially vulnerable, often subjected to coercive marriages to non-Christians. Added to the precariousness is the looming presence of Boko Haram, which disproportionately threatens Christian women with the risk of abduction. Furthermore, church activities are being heavily disrupted, not only by Boko Haram but also by armed separatist groups and the government itself. In the North West and South West regions, these groups have been targeting communities that are predominantly Christian. As a result, churches have become collateral damage. Churches have been set on fire and church leaders and seminary students kidnapped, as corroborated by reports from the US State Department (IRFR 2022 Cameroon). Armed groups often occupy churches, turning sacred spaces into arenas of conflict. Moreover, the government is also suppressing anyone who dares speak out against injustice, including Christians. Church leaders who voice opposition to systemic unfairness find themselves silenced, either through intimidation or more overt forms of repression, effectively stymieing any form of dissent within religious circles.

Other religious minorities

Any religious groups that do not openly support the government face violations. In areas where Christians are the majority, Muslims are ostracized because the community sees them as likely Boko Haram sympathizers.

Politics

Cameroon is a Presidential Republic, led by the octogenarian Paul Biya, who has ruled the country since 1982 and are now serving his 7th term. Cameroon’s democracy is described as declining and although Christians have remained active in politics, they have complained about receding freedoms to engage. Cameroon is known for its restrictive freedom of the press and the expression. It was reported by RSF (World Press Freedom 2023 Cameroon):

“Although Cameroon has one of the richest media landscapes in Africa, it is one of the continent’s most dangerous countries for journalists, who operate in a hostile and precarious environment.”

Of Christian Martyrdoms
are happening in Sub-Saharan Africa

Add your voice.

break the silence.

Out of every 10 Christians murdered for their faith across the world, nine are killed in Sub-Saharan Africa. Murder, torture and kidnapping are an everyday threat. Extremists want to destroy the church and are using unthinkable violence. The very survival of the church is at risk – unless we act.