Can this planet's most aged leader keep his title and attract a nation of youthful voters?
This planet's most aged head of state - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has pledged the nation's electorate "the best is still to come" as he seeks his 8th straight presidential term this weekend.
The 92-year-old has stayed in office for over four decades - 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 only showing up for one rally, devoting much of the election season on a week-and-a-half unofficial journey to Europe.
A backlash regarding his dependence on an artificial intelligence created campaign video, as his challengers courted voters directly, prompted his quick return north after coming back.
Young Population and Unemployment
It means that for the great bulk of the citizenry, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they remember - more than sixty percent of Cameroon's 30 million people are below the quarter century mark.
Youthful political activist Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "fresh leadership" as she maintains "longevity in power naturally results in a type of complacency".
"After 43 years, the people are exhausted," she states.
Young people's joblessness has become a particular talking point for the majority of the aspirants running in the vote.
Approximately forty percent of young Cameroonians aged from 15-35 are unemployed, with twenty-three percent of young graduates experiencing problems in securing regular work.
Rival Contenders
Apart from young people's job issues, the election system has created controversy, notably concerning the removal of a political rival from the election contest.
The removal, upheld by the highest court, was generally denounced as a ploy to prevent any serious competition to President Biya.
A dozen contenders were approved to vie for the country's top job, featuring Issa Tchiroma Bakary and a previous supporter - both former Biya colleagues from the north of the country.
Voting Challenges
In Cameroon's Anglophone Northwest and Southwest areas, where a extended separatist conflict persists, an voting prohibition restriction has been established, paralysing business activities, transport and learning.
Rebel groups who have imposed it have promised to attack anyone who does vote.
Beginning in 2017, those attempting to establish a separate nation have been fighting official military.
The violence has to date caused the deaths of at no fewer than 6,000 people and forced nearly five hundred thousand residents from their homes.
Vote Outcome
After Sunday's vote, the legal body has 15 days to reveal the results.
The security chief has already warned that none of the contenders is permitted to declare victory prior to official results.
"Those who will attempt to declare outcomes of the political race or any unofficial win announcement in violation of the laws of the nation would have broken rules and must prepare to receive retaliatory measures commensurate to their violation."
