Can this world's most aged president retain his position and woo a country of young voters?
This planet's most aged head of state - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has assured the nation's electorate "the best is still to come" as he aims for his 8th consecutive term in office on Sunday.
The nonagenarian has already been in power since 1982 - another 7-year term could extend his reign for half a century reaching almost a century old.
Campaign Controversies
He defied broad demands to step down and drew backlash for only showing up for a single campaign event, using the majority of the campaign period on a ten-day personal visit to the European continent.
Criticism concerning his reliance on an artificial intelligence created campaign video, as his opponents sought constituents on the ground, saw him rush north on his return home.
Youth Voters and Unemployment
Consequently for the great bulk of the population, Biya is the only president they have known - above 60% of Cameroon's thirty million inhabitants are under the quarter century mark.
Young campaigner Marie Flore Mboussi urgently wants "fresh leadership" as she thinks "extended rule naturally results in a sort of inertia".
"With 43 years passed, the people are weary," she declares.
Young people's joblessness has become a notable discussion topic for most of the aspirants participating in the election.
Nearly 40% of young residents aged from 15 and 35 are without work, with twenty-three percent of young graduates encountering difficulties in finding official jobs.
Rival Candidates
In addition to young people's job issues, the electoral process has created dispute, particularly regarding the disqualification of an opposition leader from the presidential race.
The disqualification, confirmed by the Constitutional Council, was widely criticised as a tactic to stop any serious competition to the current leader.
Twelve aspirants were approved to vie for the leadership position, featuring Issa Tchiroma Bakary and a previous supporter - the two previous Biya associates from the north of the nation.
Voting Challenges
Within the nation's English-speaking Northwest and South-West regions, where a extended separatist conflict ongoing, an poll avoidance closure has been enforced, paralysing economic functions, movement and education.
Insurgents who have established it have threatened to attack anyone who casts a ballot.
Starting four years ago, those seeking to create a separate nation have been fighting government forces.
The fighting has to date resulted in at no fewer than 6k individuals and forced nearly five hundred thousand people from their houses.
Vote Outcome
Once polling concludes, the legal body has two weeks to reveal the results.
The interior minister has previously cautioned that none of the contenders is allowed to claim success in advance.
"Those who will seek to declare outcomes of the leadership vote or any self-proclaimed victory against the laws of the republic would have violated boundaries and must prepare to face consequences appropriate for their violation."
