Government officials in the northern African nation of Eritrea have suspended the operation of a number of church organizations, according to reports from the World Evangelical Alliance. The suspension order, issued in May, applies to all Christian churches that are not Orthodox, Roman Catholic, or Lutheran. There has been no official explanation for the move.

A number of denominations, including Seventh-day Adventists, have reapplied for legal recognition, and are currently awaiting a response.

Located on the Red Sea, between Sudan and Ethiopia, Eritrea has a constitutional guarantee of religious freedom, and a long history of religious diversity. Its population of some 4.3 million people includes Muslims, Coptic Christians, Roman Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants.