Will the planet's most aged leader keep his position and attract a country of young electorate?
This world's most aged head of state - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has pledged the nation's electorate "the future holds promise" as he pursues his eighth consecutive term in office on Sunday.
The elderly leader has stayed in power since 1982 - another seven-year term could extend his reign for half a century making him almost 100.
Election Controversies
He resisted broad demands to leave office and drew backlash for only showing up for a single campaign event, using the majority of the campaign period on a week-and-a-half personal visit to the European continent.
Negative reaction regarding his use of an artificial intelligence created campaign video, as his challengers actively wooed supporters in person, prompted his quick return north on his return home.
Young Voters and Joblessness
Consequently for the great bulk of the citizenry, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they experienced - more than 60% of Cameroon's 30 million residents are younger than the age of 25.
Young political activist Marie Flore Mboussi is desperate for "different faces" as she maintains "extended rule inevitably leads to a kind of complacency".
"Following four decades, the population are tired," she states.
Employment challenges for youth has become a particular talking point for nearly all the aspirants participating in the election.
Approximately 40% of young Cameroonians aged from 15 and 35 are without work, with 23% of young graduates experiencing problems in obtaining official jobs.
Rival Contenders
In addition to young people's job issues, the voting procedure has generated debate, especially with the removal of Maurice Kamto from the presidential race.
His exclusion, confirmed by the highest court, was widely criticised as a ploy to block any serious competition to the current leader.
A dozen contenders were authorized to compete for the country's top job, comprising an ex-government official and another former ally - the two ex- Biya colleagues from the north of the nation.
Election Challenges
Within the nation's Anglophone Northwest and Southwest regions, where a long-running insurgency ongoing, an election boycott lockdown has been enforced, stopping economic functions, travel and learning.
Rebel groups who have established it have threatened to target individuals who does vote.
Starting four years ago, those working toward a independent territory have been fighting official military.
The conflict has until now killed at least 6,000 lives and compelled approximately half a million people from their homes.
Vote Outcome
Following the election, the legal body has 15 days to declare the findings.
The interior minister has earlier advised that no candidate is authorized to claim success prior to official results.
"Candidates who will seek to declare outcomes of the political race or any self-proclaimed victory contrary to the regulations of the republic would have crossed the red line and must prepare to receive penalties commensurate to their crime."
