The Government at all levels sought to protect all rights in full and did not tolerate its abuse, either by governmental or private actors.
The Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization MINATD must approve and register religious groups in order for them to function legally.
It is illegal for a religious group to operate without official recognition, but the law prescribes no specific penalties.
There was a growth within the major cities of so-called "sects," which their leaders consider to be subgroups of Protestant denominations; few of these are registered, and all of them operate freely.
Although official recognition confers no general tax benefits, it allows religious groups to receive real estate as tax-free gifts and legacies for the conduct of their activities.
The MINATD, rather than the judiciary, primarily resolves disputes between or within registered religious groups about control of places of worship, schools, other real estate, or financial assets.
The practice of witchcraft is a criminal offense under the national penal code, punishable by a 2 to 10-year prison term.
State television occasionally broadcasts ecumenical ceremonies on major occasions such as the commemoration of a national event.
In 2004 the Government responded promptly to assist the U.S. Embassy in the case of the forced conversion of American citizens by a private actor.
Established churches denounced new unaffiliated religious groups, most of which are individually motivated Tele-ministries, as "sects" or "cults," claiming that they were detrimental to societal peace and harmony.
In the northern provinces, especially in rural areas, societal hostility by Muslims against Christians and persons who practice traditional indigenous religious beliefs continued.
When there have been natural disasters, or to commemorate national events, Christians and Muslims organized ecumenical ceremonies to pray and promote a spirit of tolerance and peace.