Can the world's most aged president retain the position and attract a country of young electorate?
The world's most aged leader - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has promised the nation's voters "better days are ahead" as he seeks his eighth straight term in office this weekend.
The elderly leader has already been in office since 1982 - an additional seven-year mandate could see him rule for half a century reaching almost a century old.
Campaign Controversies
He defied numerous appeals to resign and drew backlash for making merely one public appearance, using the majority of the political race on a ten-day private trip to the European continent.
Criticism concerning his use of an AI-generated campaign video, as his challengers sought constituents in person, saw him rush to the northern region on his return home.
Young Population and Unemployment
It means that for the large portion of the population, Biya is the only president they experienced - more than 60% of Cameroon's thirty million residents are younger than the quarter century mark.
Youthful advocate Marie Flore Mboussi urgently wants "new blood" as she believes "extended rule inevitably leads to a kind of inertia".
"With 43 years passed, the people are exhausted," she states.
Youth unemployment has been a particular issue of concern for most of the aspirants competing in the election.
Almost forty percent of young citizens between 15-35 are without work, with 23% of young graduates encountering difficulties in obtaining regular work.
Opposition Contenders
In addition to youth unemployment, the election system has also stirred dispute, especially with the removal of an opposition leader from the leadership competition.
The disqualification, confirmed by the Constitutional Council, was generally denounced as a strategy to prevent any strong challenge to President Biya.
12 candidates were authorized to compete for the presidency, comprising Issa Tchiroma Bakary and a previous supporter - both previous Biya allies from the north of the nation.
Voting Difficulties
Within the nation's English-speaking Northwest and Southwest areas, where a long-running rebellion ongoing, an election boycott restriction has been enforced, paralysing commercial operations, transport and schooling.
Rebel groups who have established it have promised to target people who participates.
Beginning in 2017, those seeking to create a breakaway state have been fighting official military.
The fighting has so far caused the deaths of at no fewer than six thousand people and compelled approximately 500,000 residents from their residences.
Vote Outcome
After Sunday's vote, the Constitutional Council has fifteen days to reveal the results.
The security chief has earlier advised that no candidate is authorized to announce winning in advance.
"Individuals who will try to declare outcomes of the presidential election or any personal declaration of success in violation of the regulations of the country would have broken rules and must prepare to receive retaliatory measures commensurate to their violation."
