Gabon: the Ministry of the Interior suspends the leadership of the Evangelical Church amid the crisis
The Evangelical Church of Gabon is facing a governance crisis following the installation of two rival presidents. To prevent potential public disorder, the Ministry of the Interior has temporarily suspended its board and has given it three months to appoint a single leader.
SUMMARY
Around ten pastors, accompanied by several congregants, protested this decision on Tuesday, August 18, at a church in Libreville. They accuse the government of interfering in the internal workings of this community, which is presented as the oldest evangelical church in Central Africa.
“This decision by the Minister of the Interior is interference and hinders the normal functioning of our institution,” said the pastors opposed to the measure. They are calling for the annulment of the board’s suspension and have sought the arbitration of Gabon’s president, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema.
Two Presidents After a Disputed Vote
The crisis began during a conclave tasked with appointing the new president of the Evangelical Church of Gabon. Two candidates were in the running. The internal regulations provide for an appointment by consensus or, failing that, by election.
Due to a lack of agreement among the participants, a vote was organized. According to the account of the protesting pastors, one of the candidates refused to submit to this procedure. However, his opponent was elected and installed as president.
The other candidate contested the results and was subsequently inaugurated as the head of the Church. This dual installation created a bicéphalous leadership, which led to the intervention of the Ministry of the Interior.
The administration decided to suspend the board provisionally, citing a risk of public disorder. It also instructed the Church leaders to organize, within a three-month period, the appointment of a single president.
Concerned Congregants Over the Division
The rivalry between the two leaders is causing concern within the religious community. Several congregants express regret over a situation that disrupts the Church’s activities.
“It saddens me and it saddens the entire religious community of the Evangelical Church in Gabon,” said one of them. Another explained that this crisis puts members “uneasy,” as they wish to continue their religious activities.
The pastors mobilized against the ministerial decision have not announced the details of a potential new election. The duration of the board’s suspension and the specific conditions of the appointment process remain to be clarified.
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