Will this planet's most aged leader keep his position and attract a nation of young electorate?
This planet's oldest head of state - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has pledged the nation's electorate "better days are ahead" as he seeks his eighth consecutive presidential term this weekend.
The nonagenarian has remained in office since 1982 - an additional seven-year mandate could extend his reign for 50 years reaching almost a century old.
Campaign Issues
He defied widespread calls to resign and has been criticised for only showing up for one rally, spending most of the campaign period on a week-and-a-half private trip to the European continent.
A backlash concerning his reliance on an artificial intelligence created election advertisement, as his opponents sought constituents directly, prompted his quick return north upon his arrival.
Young Voters and Unemployment
This indicates for the large portion of the citizenry, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they have known - above sixty percent of Cameroon's 30 million residents are younger than the age of 25.
Youthful political activist Marie Flore Mboussi is desperate for "fresh leadership" as she thinks "longevity in power typically causes a sort of laziness".
"With 43 years passed, the population are weary," she declares.
Young people's joblessness has been a notable talking point for most of the candidates participating in the vote.
Approximately forty percent of youthful residents aged from 15-35 are without work, with 23% of college-educated youth encountering difficulties in obtaining regular work.
Rival Contenders
Apart from youth unemployment, the voting procedure has generated debate, notably concerning the exclusion of Maurice Kamto from the election contest.
The removal, upheld by the legal authority, was widely criticised as a ploy to prevent any strong challenge to the incumbent.
A dozen contenders were authorized to compete for the leadership position, including Issa Tchiroma Bakary and Bello Bouba Maigari - each former Biya associates from the north of the nation.
Voting Difficulties
In Cameroon's Anglophone Northwest and Southwest territories, where a protracted insurgency ongoing, an poll avoidance lockdown has been enforced, paralysing business activities, transport and schooling.
Insurgents who have established it have threatened to target anyone who participates.
Starting four years ago, those attempting to establish a breakaway state have been battling official military.
The violence has until now resulted in at minimum 6k people and forced almost five hundred thousand residents from their houses.
Election Results
Following the election, the legal body has two weeks to announce the outcome.
The government official has already warned that no aspirant is permitted to claim success in advance.
"Those who will seek to announce results of the political race or any unofficial win announcement against the laws of the nation would have crossed the red line and should be ready to encounter consequences matching their offense."
