Will the planet's oldest leader retain his position and woo a country of young electorate?
This planet's oldest leader - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has pledged Cameroon's electorate "the best is still to come" as he seeks his eighth consecutive presidential term on Sunday.
The nonagenarian has remained in office since 1982 - an additional seven-year term could see him rule for 50 years until he will be almost 100.
Election Issues
He defied numerous appeals to resign and faced criticism for only showing up for one rally, devoting much of the election season on a week-and-a-half private trip to the European continent.
Criticism over his dependence on an AI-generated campaign video, as his opponents courted supporters in person, saw him rush to the northern region upon his arrival.
Young Voters and Unemployment
This indicates for the great bulk of the people, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they remember - more than 60% of Cameroon's 30 million people are below the quarter century mark.
Youthful advocate Marie Flore Mboussi is desperate for "fresh leadership" as she maintains "longevity in power typically causes a kind of complacency".
"With 43 years passed, the citizens are weary," she says.
Employment challenges for youth has become a particular talking point for nearly all the contenders competing in the political race.
Almost forty percent of young residents between 15 and 35 are unemployed, with twenty-three percent of recent graduates encountering difficulties in finding regular work.
Opposition Candidates
In addition to youth unemployment, the voting procedure has generated dispute, notably concerning the removal of Maurice Kamto from the leadership competition.
The disqualification, upheld by the legal authority, was generally denounced as a ploy to prevent any serious competition to the current leader.
A dozen contenders were authorized to compete for the country's top job, featuring Issa Tchiroma Bakary and a previous supporter - each ex- Biya colleagues from the northern region of the country.
Voting Difficulties
In Cameroon's English-speaking North-West and South-West regions, where a protracted rebellion ongoing, an voting prohibition closure has been established, paralysing commercial operations, movement and learning.
Insurgents who have enforced it have warned to harm people who casts a ballot.
Since 2017, those seeking to create a independent territory have been battling government forces.
The violence has until now killed at no fewer than 6,000 people and forced nearly half a million residents from their homes.
Vote Outcome
After Sunday's vote, the Constitutional Council has two weeks to announce the results.
The security chief has already warned that none of the contenders is permitted to announce winning in advance.
"Those who will attempt to declare outcomes of the political race or any self-proclaimed victory contrary to the rules of the nation would have violated boundaries and should be ready to receive retaliatory measures commensurate to their violation."
