First District Created in the Central African Republic

The Church recently organized its first district in the Central African Republic (CAR). The new Bangui Central African Republic District was created from the three mission branches in the capital city—Bangui 1st, Bangui 2nd, and Bangui 3rd (the latter two organized only a few months ago). The district is supervised by the Cameroon Yaoundé Mission. It is unclear when the new district was organized, but it appears to have been created on August 3rd or 10th. The Church has maintained a branch in Bangui for over 30 years and has experienced essentially stagnant growth for most of this time due to remote location, infrequent mission leader visits, and no assigned proselytizing missionaries until 2025.

This milestone makes the CAR the second nation in 2025 to receive its first district, following the creation of the Conakry Guinea District in March. Districts function similarly to stakes, with a district presidency overseeing multiple branches within their boundaries.

The organization of the Bangui Central African Republic District marks significant progress for the Church in the country. The creation of the district suggests that there is sufficient local leadership to staff both branch and district callings, with perhaps ambitions in the near term to organize additional branches in Bangui (population 1.68 million). As of year-end 2024, Church membership in the CAR totaled 281.

New Stakes Created in the DR Congo (2), Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo)

Two new stakes were recently created in the DR Congo.

The Kinshasa DR Congo Mapela Stake was organized on June 29th, 2025, from a division of the Kinshasa DR Congo Mokali Stake (renamed the Kinshasa DR Congo Siforco Stake; organized in 2012). The new stake includes the following six wards: the Du Rail 1st, Du Rail 2nd, Mapela, Masina 2nd, Masina 5th, and Mulondo Wards. The new stake is the Church's third new stake created in Kinshasa this year, bringing the total number of stakes in the city to 17. Kinshasa has now surpassed Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, as the metropolitan city on the Afro-Eurasian landmass with the most stakes. New wards have been created in Kinshasa on nearly a weekly basis thus far in 2025, and there currently three stakes in the city that appear likely to divide in the immediate future. High rates of growth and member activity, a large number of stakes, and difficulty traveling across the city to reach the current temple (dedicated in 2019) suggest the announcement of a second temple for Kinshasa is highly likely in the immediate future.

The Church organized a new stake in Kolwezi on July 27th from a division of the original Kolwezi DR Congo Stake (organized in 2019). The new Kolwezi DR Congo Joli Site Stake includes the following six wards and one branch: the Diur, Golf, Lupundu, Manika, Musompo 1st, and Musompo 2nd Wards and the Lualaba Branch. The Church organized the DR Congo Kolwezi Mission in 2024. Kolwezi appears likely to have a temple announcement in the medium term due to remote distance and high rates of growth in recent years. 

There are now 40 stakes and six districts in the DR Congo - double the number of stakes and districts in 2018 (19 stakes, 3 districts).

Papua New Guinea

Today, the Church organized the Minj Papua New Guinea Stake from the Minj Papua New Guinea District (organized in 2010). Information on which of the eight branches became wards in the new stake remains unavailable. The new stake is the Church's third new stake created in the country since January of this year, and all of these stakes have been organized from districts, suggesting maturation in leadership development and sustained rates of member activity to warrant additional stakes to function. Despite this progress, the Church in Papua New Guinea has never created a new stake by dividing another stake. This has largely been due to a rural population spread over large, difficult to access areas, as well as problems with inactivity and slow growth in Port Moresby since the first and only stake in the city was organized 30 years ago.

There are now six stakes and eight districts in Papua New Guinea.

Philippines

Today, a new stake was created in the Philippines. The Panabo Philippines Stake was organized from the Panabo Philippines district (organized in 1993). It is likely most, if not all, of the six branches in the former district became wards, and local members have confirmed that the Carmen Branch has become a ward. The new stake is the Church's fifth new stake created on Mindanao since 2020, and all five of these stakes were created from districts.

There are now 134 stakes and 53 districts in the Philippines.