Can this planet's most aged president keep the position and woo a country of young voters?
The planet's most aged head of state - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has pledged Cameroon's electorate "the future holds promise" as he pursues his eighth consecutive term in office on Sunday.
The 92-year-old has stayed in power since 1982 - another 7-year term could keep him in power for 50 years reaching almost 100.
Election Controversies
He resisted broad demands to resign and faced criticism for only showing up for a single campaign event, devoting much of the political race on a 10-day private trip to Europe.
A backlash over his dependence on an artificial intelligence created political commercial, as his challengers sought supporters directly, prompted his quick return north upon his arrival.
Young Population and Unemployment
It means that for the vast majority of the citizenry, Biya is the only president they have known - above 60% of the nation's 30 million inhabitants are below the age of 25.
Youthful campaigner Marie Flore Mboussi urgently wants "different faces" as she maintains "longevity in power typically causes a sort of inertia".
"Following four decades, the people are exhausted," she says.
Youth unemployment remains a specific issue of concern for the majority of the candidates participating in the vote.
Almost forty percent of young residents aged from 15 to 35 years are unemployed, with twenty-three percent of recent graduates experiencing problems in obtaining formal employment.
Rival Candidates
Beyond youth unemployment, the election system has created dispute, especially with the removal of a political rival from the presidential race.
The removal, confirmed by the Constitutional Council, was broadly condemned as a ploy to stop any serious competition to the incumbent.
12 contenders were authorized to contest for the leadership position, comprising an ex-government official and Bello Bouba Maigari - each previous Biya allies from the northern region of the country.
Voting Difficulties
Within the nation's Anglophone North-West and Southwest areas, where a protracted rebellion ongoing, an election boycott restriction has been imposed, halting business activities, travel and schooling.
Insurgents who have imposed it have threatened to attack individuals who does vote.
Starting four years ago, those seeking to create a breakaway state have been clashing with official military.
The conflict has so far caused the deaths of at minimum 6,000 people and caused nearly 500,000 others from their homes.
Election Results
After Sunday's vote, the highest court has 15 days to declare the outcome.
The interior minister has previously cautioned that no candidate is allowed to claim success prior to official results.
"Candidates who will attempt to announce results of the political race or any self-proclaimed victory against the laws of the republic would have crossed the red line and must prepare to encounter consequences appropriate for their offense."
