Africa: Proliferation of sects

The French radio station thus revealed that "some pastors make their disciples eat rats and serpents and drink gasoline, or jump on them with both feet", all "in God's name" and for important sums of money. According to RFI, certain governments are worried and are trying to introduce rules to fight against this phenomenon.

Such is the case in South Africa, where the authorities have decided to open an investigation into the sects and their financing. This measure was taken after several scandals implicating auto-proclaimed prophets. In Togo, up to 856 sects were recorded in 2009. According to RFI's survey, "members continue to join and the neighbors complain regularly, especially about the noise."

In Central Africa, the Protestant community is faced with "radical evangelical preachers". Some pretend to work miracles, while "others promote violence between the communities." In Angola, the ANGOP (Angolan press agency) announced on August 24 that "representatives of the civil society, religious, and legal experts" have called on the government to "make the conditions for the exercise of sects stricter." After a national forum on the matter, they suggested that the State oblige anyone wishing to open a sect to present a list of 60,000 signatures, certified by a notary public.