Will this world's most aged leader keep his title and woo a nation of young electorate?
The planet's most aged head of state - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has promised the nation's electorate "the future holds promise" as he aims for his 8th consecutive presidential term on Sunday.
The elderly leader has remained in power since 1982 - an additional seven-year mandate could see him rule for half a century until he will be almost a century old.
Campaign Controversies
He ignored numerous appeals to leave office and drew backlash for only showing up for one public appearance, spending most of the political race on a week-and-a-half personal visit to the European continent.
A backlash over his reliance on an AI-generated political commercial, as his opponents sought supporters in person, prompted his quick return to the northern region upon his arrival.
Youth Voters and Unemployment
It means that for the great bulk of the people, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they remember - over sixty percent of Cameroon's thirty million residents are below the 25 years old.
Young political activist Marie Flore Mboussi urgently wants "different faces" as she believes "prolonged leadership naturally results in a sort of inertia".
"Following four decades, the citizens are weary," she declares.
Youth unemployment has become a particular discussion topic for the majority of the contenders participating in the election.
Approximately forty percent of young Cameroonians between 15 to 35 years are jobless, with 23% of young graduates facing challenges in obtaining formal employment.
Opposition Candidates
In addition to youth unemployment, the electoral process has also stirred debate, notably concerning the removal of Maurice Kamto from the leadership competition.
His exclusion, confirmed by the legal authority, was generally denounced as a ploy to prevent any strong challenge to President Biya.
12 candidates were authorized to contest for the country's top job, featuring a former minister and a previous supporter - both ex- Biya allies from the north of the nation.
Election Challenges
Within the nation's English-speaking Northwest and South-West territories, where a protracted insurgency ongoing, an voting prohibition restriction has been enforced, stopping business activities, travel and schooling.
The separatists who have established it have warned to target individuals who casts a ballot.
Beginning in 2017, those attempting to establish a separate nation have been clashing with government forces.
The conflict has so far resulted in at minimum 6k individuals and forced almost half a million people from their homes.
Election Results
After Sunday's vote, the Constitutional Council has 15 days to reveal the results.
The interior minister has already warned that no aspirant is allowed to declare victory in advance.
"Candidates who will seek to reveal findings of the leadership vote or any personal declaration of success against the laws of the nation would have violated boundaries and need to be prepared to receive consequences matching their offense."
