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Section I. Freedom of Religion
The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the Government respects this right in practice.
There are no separate requirements for recognition of different religions, but religious groups must register with the Government. There were no reports that the Government refused to register any religious groups.
More than 70 percent of the population are Christian. Among the Christian denominations, the largest are the Roman Catholic and Presbyterian (Church of Central Africa Presbyterian--CCAP) Churches, with smaller numbers of Anglicans, Baptists, evangelicals, and Seventh-Day Adventists. There is a substantial Muslim minority totaling approximately 20 percent of the population. Most Muslims are Sunni. There are also Hindus, Baha'is, and followers of traditional indigenous religions. Atheism is negligible.
Foreign missionaries experienced occasional delays in renewing employment permits, despite the Government's revision of its policy and procedures on temporary employment permits in 1997; however, this appears to be the result of bureaucratic inefficiency rather than a deliberate government policy against foreign missionaries. Missionaries and charitable workers pay lower fees for employment permits than do other professionals.
There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom during the period covered by this report.
There were no reports of religious detainees or prisoners.
There were no reports of the forced religious conversion of minor U.S. citizens who had been abducted or illegally removed from the United States, or of the Government's refusal to allow such citizens to be returned to the United States.
Section II. Societal Attitudes
There are generally amicable relations between the various religious communities. There is no societal discrimination against members of religious minorities.
There have been active efforts to foster cooperation between religious groups. For example, the Public Affairs Committee, which is prominently involved in promoting civic education and human rights, includes representatives of various churches and mosques.
Some opposition politicians and clerics have raised Islam as a political issue. Citing the President's adherence to Islam, his contact with Islamic countries such as Libya, and the building of new mosques, some opposition politicians and clerics have accused the ruling party of attempting to "Islamicize" the country. In the period leading up to the June 1999 elections, a pastor of the CCAP Church issued a pastoral letter that was interpreted widely to be a call to vote for a Christian president.
Section III. U.S. Government Policy
The U.S. Embassy discusses religious freedom issues with the Government in the overall context of the promotion of human rights. Representatives of the Embassy have frequent contact with leaders and members of all religious communities in the country.
Source: U.S. State Department
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