State Minister of Gender and Social Development in Central Equatoria Mary Apayi has asked all churches operating in Juba to register with the state government. She said the purpose was “harmonizing the work of the churches operating in Centeral Equatoria State.”

The minister was addressing a consultative meeting conducted by the Ministry of Gender and Social Development at the premises of Bishop Gwynne Theological College in Juba on 29 May.

Her remarks came after the state Ministry of Gender and Social Development accused some of the churches of disturbing the public. During the meeting church leaders and government officials traded accusations.

“Church leaders are insulting politicians all the time in funerals,” Apayi told church leaders.

On the other side, state government officials who attended the conference accused some churches of exploiting people for personal gain. “Some individuals are exploiting the church for personal gain,” Hastin Yokowe, Minister of Cabinet Affairs in Central Equatoria told various church leaders in Juba.

She also pointed out, “We have received a lot of complaints that some churches pray throughout the night making noise.”

A recent assessment conducted by the State Ministry of Gender and Social Development found that there are 169 churches operating in Juba alone. Only seven church denominations are represented on the South Sudan Council of Churches.

The minister also accused some of these churches of abusing freedom of expression in term of religious freedom as provided in the Transitional Constitution of South Sudan.

Meanwhile, church leaders also urged the government to ban all advertisements promoting witchcraft and witchdoctors in both print and broadcast media countrywide.