Will the planet's oldest leader keep his title and attract a country of youthful voters?
The world's most aged head of state - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has pledged the nation's electorate "the best is still to come" as he seeks his 8th consecutive term in office on Sunday.
The elderly leader has remained in office for over four decades - another seven-year term could extend his reign for 50 years until he will be almost a century old.
Campaign Issues
He resisted numerous appeals to resign and drew backlash for making merely a single campaign event, devoting much of the campaign period on a ten-day unofficial journey to Europe.
Criticism concerning his dependence on an artificial intelligence created campaign video, as his rivals sought voters directly, saw him rush north on his return home.
Young Population and Joblessness
Consequently for the large portion of the population, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they have known - over sixty percent of Cameroon's 30 million people are below the age of 25.
Young campaigner Marie Flore Mboussi urgently wants "different faces" as she maintains "longevity in power naturally results in a sort of laziness".
"With 43 years passed, the citizens are tired," she declares.
Employment challenges for youth has been a notable talking point for the majority of the contenders participating in the political race.
Approximately 40% of young citizens between 15 to 35 years are unemployed, with 23% of college-educated youth experiencing problems in finding official jobs.
Rival Candidates
Beyond youth unemployment, the electoral process has also stirred dispute, notably concerning the disqualification of Maurice Kamto from the election contest.
His exclusion, upheld by the legal authority, was broadly condemned as a strategy to stop any serious competition to President Biya.
Twelve candidates were authorized to vie for the leadership position, comprising a former minister and another former ally - each previous Biya allies from the northern region of the nation.
Election Challenges
Within the nation's English-speaking Northwest and Southwest areas, where a protracted separatist conflict ongoing, an election boycott closure has been imposed, paralysing commercial operations, travel and learning.
Rebel groups who have enforced it have warned to target anyone who casts a ballot.
Starting four years ago, those attempting to establish a separate nation have been fighting government forces.
The violence has until now caused the deaths of at no fewer than six thousand people and compelled nearly half a million others from their houses.
Election Results
After Sunday's vote, the legal body has fifteen days to reveal the outcome.
The government official has already warned that no aspirant is allowed to claim success prior to official results.
"Individuals who will try to reveal findings of the political race or any self-proclaimed victory in violation of the laws of the country would have crossed the red line and need to be prepared to encounter penalties appropriate for their offense."
