LDS Africa

The Church organized its first stake in Benin on April 24th. The Cotonou Benin Stake was organized from the Cotonou Benin Stake. Missionaries report that the new stake includes eight wards and six branches. However, there is currently only confirmation on four branches that have become wards: Cococodji, Fidjrosse, Finagnon, and Menontin.

The Church organized its fourth stake in the Kasai Region of the central DR Congo on April 24th. The Mbuji-Mayi Democratic Republic of the Congo Stake was organized from the Mbuji-Mayi Democratic Republic of the Congo District. The new stake includes the following six wards and two branches: the Bipemba, Dibindi, Diulu, Misesa, Muya 1st, and Muya 2nd Wards, and the Tshikama and Tshitenge Branches. Mbuji-Mayi will also headquarter the Church’s third mission in the DR Congo this July.There are now 14 stakes and three districts in the DR Congo.

The Church organized a new stake in southeastern Nigeria on May 1st. The Ikot Eyo Nigeria Stake was organized from the Nsit Ubium Nigeria Stake (renamed Ukat Aran Nigeria Stake) and the Ibesikpo Nigeria District. The new stake includes the following four wards and six branches: the Ikot Ekwere, Ikot Eyo 1st, Ikot Eyo 2nd, and Ikot Eyo 3rd Wards, and the Ikot Akpan Abia, Ikot Ebre, Ikot Esen, Ikot Oku Iyan, Ikot Udofia, and Ndikpo Atang Branches.

Source: LDS Church Growth

Members living in Senegal report that the first official LDS branch was recently organized in the capital city of Dakar. The Church has operated a member group in Dakar for at least one year. In mid-2015, the Dakar Group appeared to entirely consistent of foreigners who temporarily lived in the country for employment purposes. Senegal is not currently assigned to an LDS mission. The country is directly administered by the Africa West Area. In late 2015, the Church noted that it had plans to assign senior missionaries to serve in Dakar.

Source: LDS Church Growth

I have received confirmation that the Church will organized its first stake in the West African country of Benin on April 24th. The Church in Benin has experienced some of its most rapid growth among nations that have opened to missionary work since 2005. Currently the Church reports one district, 14 branches, and 2,255 members. To contrast, the Church reported only one branch and 95 members in 2005. The Church organized the Benin Cotonou Mission in 2011.

Source: LDS Church Growth

The Church organized a new stake in southwestern Ghana on March 20th. The Mpintsin Ghana Stake was organized from a division of the Takoradi Ghana Stake and the Ghana Cape Coast Mission. The new stake includes the following five wards and four branches: the Kojokrom, Mpintsin 1st, Mpintsin 2nd, Nketsiakrom, and Sofokrom Wards, and the Daboase, Eshiem, Essipon, and Shama Branches. The Takoradi Ghana Stake numbered among the stakes in West Africa that has taken the longest to divide since the stake’s organization in 1997.

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The Church organized a new stake in Nairobi on March 20th. The Nairobi Kenya East Stake was organized from a division of the Nairobi Kenya Stake. The new stake includes the following seven wards: the Kayole 1st, Kayole 2nd, Lucky Summer, Nairobi 1st, Nairobi 2nd, South B, and Zimmerman Wards. The organization of the new stake is a major milestone for the Church in Kenya and East Africa. Nairobi is the first city in East Africa to have had two LDS stakes organized. The new stake in Kenya is the Church’s fourth stake to be created in the entire region of East Africa. With the organization of the new stake in Nairobi, prospects have improved for the announcement of a temple in Nairobi or Kampala within the foreseeable future.

Source: LDS Church Growth

The Church organized a new district in southeastern Nigeria on March 6th. The Etinan Nigeria North District was organized from a division of the Etinan Nigeria Stake. Although official information on congregations assigned to the district remains unavailable, it appears that five branches are assigned to the new district: Afaha Nsit, Ikot Ananga, Ikot Ebo 1st, Ikot Ebo 2nd, and Ikot Obio Asanga.

Source: LDS Church Growth

The Church organized its second stake in Uganda on November 29th. The Jinja Uganda Stake was organized from the Jinja Uganda District (organized in 1993). The new stake includes the following five wards and two branches: the Bugembe, Iganga, Jinja, Mpumedde, and Njeru Wards, and the Lugazi and Walukuba Branches. Missionaries report preliminary plans to organize a third stake in Uganda from a division of the Kampala Uganda Stake (organized in 2010) although the stake currently lacks a sufficient number of wards to create a second stake in the city (7 wards, 5 branches) unless several branches become wards.

Read more at LDS Church Growth