Will the planet's oldest president retain his position and attract a country of youthful voters?
This world's oldest leader - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has promised the nation's voters "the best is still to come" as he aims for his 8th straight term in office this weekend.
The elderly leader has already been in power since 1982 - an additional 7-year term could see him rule for half a century until he will be almost a century old.
Campaign Issues
He defied numerous appeals to step down and drew backlash for making merely one public appearance, using the majority of the campaign period on a 10-day personal visit to Europe.
Criticism over his use of an AI-generated political commercial, as his challengers actively wooed voters in person, prompted his quick return to the northern region on his return home.
Youth Population and Unemployment
It means that for the large portion of the population, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they remember - above sixty percent of the nation's 30 million inhabitants are younger than the quarter century mark.
Young political activist Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "different faces" as she thinks "prolonged leadership naturally results in a kind of complacency".
"With 43 years passed, the population are weary," she declares.
Young people's joblessness remains a specific discussion topic for most of the contenders competing in the vote.
Almost 40% of young Cameroonians aged from 15-35 are jobless, with 23% of recent graduates encountering difficulties in finding regular work.
Rival Contenders
In addition to youth unemployment, the voting procedure has created controversy, particularly regarding the removal of Maurice Kamto from the leadership competition.
The removal, confirmed by the highest court, was broadly condemned as a ploy to prevent any significant opposition to President Biya.
A dozen contenders were authorized to compete for the country's top job, including a former minister and a previous supporter - both previous Biya allies from the north of the country.
Election Challenges
Within the nation's Anglophone Northwest and Southwest territories, where a protracted separatist conflict persists, an voting prohibition closure has been imposed, halting economic functions, movement and schooling.
Insurgents who have established it have promised to attack anyone who does vote.
Since 2017, those seeking to create a independent territory have been clashing with state security.
The violence has to date resulted in at least six thousand individuals and compelled approximately 500,000 others from their residences.
Election Results
After Sunday's vote, the Constitutional Council has fifteen days to reveal the results.
The government official has earlier advised that no aspirant is permitted to declare victory in advance.
"Individuals who will try to announce results of the leadership vote or any self-proclaimed victory contrary to the regulations of the republic would have broken rules and need to be prepared to receive retaliatory measures appropriate for their crime."
