Will the world's most aged president keep his position and attract a nation of young electorate?
This planet's most aged leader - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has promised the nation's voters "the best is still to come" as he pursues his eighth consecutive term in office on Sunday.
The elderly leader has already been in power for over four decades - another seven-year mandate could keep him in power for half a century until he will be almost a century old.
Election Controversies
He defied broad demands to step down and faced criticism for making merely one public appearance, using the majority of the campaign period on a week-and-a-half private trip to Europe.
Criticism concerning his dependence on an AI-generated election advertisement, as his opponents actively wooed constituents in person, prompted his quick return north after coming back.
Youth Population and Unemployment
It means that for the great bulk of the people, Biya is the only president they remember - above 60% of Cameroon's thirty million residents are under the quarter century mark.
Young political activist Marie Flore Mboussi urgently wants "fresh leadership" as she maintains "longevity in power typically causes a sort of inertia".
"With 43 years passed, the people are exhausted," she states.
Youth unemployment has been a particular discussion topic for most of the candidates competing in the political race.
Approximately 40% of young residents aged from 15 and 35 are without work, with 23% of recent graduates encountering difficulties in securing regular work.
Rival Contenders
Beyond youth unemployment, the voting procedure has generated controversy, especially with the disqualification of an opposition leader from the leadership competition.
The removal, approved by the legal authority, was generally denounced as a strategy to prevent any strong challenge to the current leader.
12 candidates were approved to contest for the leadership position, comprising a former minister and Bello Bouba Maigari - both ex- Biya colleagues from the north of the nation.
Voting Challenges
Within the nation's English-speaking North-West and South-West territories, where a protracted rebellion continues, an election boycott restriction has been enforced, paralysing business activities, transport and education.
Rebel groups who have enforced it have warned to target individuals who does vote.
Since 2017, those seeking to create a breakaway state have been fighting official military.
The fighting has to date killed at no fewer than 6k individuals and compelled approximately five hundred thousand people from their houses.
Election Results
Following the election, the legal body has 15 days to declare the outcome.
The government official has earlier advised that no aspirant is allowed to declare victory in advance.
"Individuals who will try to announce results of the political race or any unofficial win announcement contrary to the rules of the nation would have crossed the red line and must prepare to face penalties commensurate to their offense."
