Will the planet's oldest president keep the position and woo a country of young voters?
This planet's oldest leader - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has assured the nation's electorate "the future holds promise" as he seeks his 8th straight presidential term this weekend.
The nonagenarian has remained in power since 1982 - another seven-year mandate could keep him in power for half a century reaching almost a century old.
Campaign Controversies
He defied widespread calls to leave office and drew backlash for attending just one public appearance, using the majority of the election season on a 10-day unofficial journey to Europe.
Criticism over his reliance on an AI-generated political commercial, as his opponents actively wooed supporters directly, saw him rush to the northern region on his return home.
Young Voters and Unemployment
It means that for the large portion of the population, Biya remains the sole leader they have known - above 60% of Cameroon's thirty million people are below the age of 25.
Young advocate Marie Flore Mboussi is desperate for "different faces" as she believes "extended rule inevitably leads to a sort of inertia".
"With 43 years passed, the citizens are tired," she declares.
Youth unemployment has become a particular talking point for most of the candidates competing in the political race.
Nearly forty percent of youthful residents between 15 to 35 years are without work, with 23% of recent graduates facing challenges in securing official jobs.
Rival Candidates
Apart from youth unemployment, the electoral process has also stirred dispute, notably concerning the disqualification of a political rival from the election contest.
His exclusion, approved by the highest court, was widely criticised as a strategy to block any serious competition to the incumbent.
12 aspirants were approved to compete for the country's top job, including an ex-government official and a previous supporter - each previous Biya allies from the north of the country.
Voting Difficulties
Within the nation's Anglophone North-West and Southwest areas, where a long-running insurgency persists, an voting prohibition restriction has been enforced, stopping commercial operations, movement and schooling.
The separatists who have enforced it have threatened to target individuals who does vote.
Beginning in 2017, those working toward a breakaway state have been fighting official military.
The conflict has to date killed at no fewer than 6k lives and caused approximately half a million residents from their homes.
Vote Outcome
Following the election, the Constitutional Council has 15 days to reveal the findings.
The government official has previously cautioned that no aspirant is allowed to announce winning prior to official results.
"Candidates who will try to reveal findings of the political race or any unofficial win announcement in violation of the laws of the nation would have crossed the red line and must prepare to encounter retaliatory measures matching their violation."
