Can the world's most aged leader keep the title and attract a nation of youthful voters?
The planet's most aged leader - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has pledged the nation's voters "the future holds promise" as he pursues his 8th consecutive term in office this weekend.
The nonagenarian has stayed in office since 1982 - an additional seven-year mandate could keep him in power for half a century until he will be almost a century old.
Election Controversies
He resisted numerous appeals to resign and drew backlash for making merely a single campaign event, spending most of the political race on a ten-day personal visit to Europe.
Negative reaction concerning his reliance on an artificial intelligence created campaign video, as his challengers courted constituents in person, led to his hurried travel north on his return home.
Young Voters and Joblessness
This indicates for the vast majority of the citizenry, Biya is the only president they have known - over 60% of the nation's thirty million people are younger than the 25 years old.
Youthful advocate Marie Flore Mboussi is desperate for "fresh leadership" as she thinks "prolonged leadership inevitably leads to a sort of complacency".
"Following four decades, the people are tired," she states.
Young people's joblessness has become a specific talking point for the majority of the candidates participating in the election.
Nearly forty percent of youthful Cameroonians aged from 15-35 are jobless, with 23% of recent graduates facing challenges in obtaining formal employment.
Rival Contenders
In addition to youth unemployment, the voting procedure has generated controversy, particularly regarding the exclusion of Maurice Kamto from the election contest.
The disqualification, confirmed by the highest court, was generally denounced as a tactic to stop any strong challenge to the incumbent.
Twelve candidates were cleared to vie for the presidency, featuring Issa Tchiroma Bakary and a previous supporter - each former Biya colleagues from the north of the country.
Election Challenges
Within the nation's English-speaking North-West and Southwest regions, where a extended rebellion continues, an poll avoidance closure has been enforced, stopping commercial operations, transport and learning.
Rebel groups who have enforced it have warned to harm people who does vote.
Beginning in 2017, those working toward a breakaway state have been fighting state security.
The violence has so far resulted in at least six thousand lives and compelled approximately 500,000 others from their houses.
Election Results
Following the election, the legal body has fifteen days to reveal the findings.
The interior minister has already warned that none of the contenders is authorized to announce winning in advance.
"Individuals who will seek to announce results of the leadership vote or any personal declaration of success against the laws of the country would have broken rules and must prepare to encounter retaliatory measures matching their crime."
