Can the planet's oldest leader retain the position and woo a country of youthful voters?
This world's most aged head of state - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has pledged Cameroon's voters "better days are ahead" as he pursues his eighth straight presidential term this weekend.
The elderly leader has remained in power since 1982 - another 7-year term could see him rule for half a century until he will be almost 100.
Campaign Controversies
He resisted widespread calls to resign and faced criticism for only showing up for one public appearance, spending most of the political race on a ten-day unofficial journey to the European continent.
Negative reaction over his use of an artificial intelligence created political commercial, as his challengers actively wooed constituents directly, prompted his quick return to the northern region upon his arrival.
Young Voters and Joblessness
This indicates for the great bulk of the citizenry, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they have known - over 60% of Cameroon's 30 million people are below the quarter century mark.
Youthful political activist Marie Flore Mboussi is desperate for "different faces" as she thinks "extended rule typically causes a sort of laziness".
"After 43 years, the people are weary," she says.
Young people's joblessness has been a notable discussion topic for the majority of the candidates running in the vote.
Nearly 40% of young Cameroonians aged from 15 and 35 are without work, with twenty-three percent of young graduates encountering difficulties in obtaining formal employment.
Rival Candidates
Beyond youth unemployment, the election system has also stirred debate, particularly regarding the exclusion of an opposition leader from the leadership competition.
His exclusion, upheld by the highest court, was widely criticised as a ploy to prevent any serious competition to President Biya.
Twelve candidates were approved to contest for the presidency, including a former minister and Bello Bouba Maigari - the two previous Biya colleagues from the northern region of the nation.
Voting Challenges
In Cameroon's Anglophone Northwest and Southwest territories, where a protracted insurgency continues, an election boycott lockdown has been imposed, stopping economic functions, transport and education.
Insurgents who have imposed it have promised to attack anyone who casts a ballot.
Since 2017, those attempting to establish a breakaway state have been fighting state security.
The fighting has to date resulted in at minimum 6,000 people and compelled almost half a million residents from their residences.
Vote Outcome
Following the election, the Constitutional Council has two weeks to announce the results.
The government official has already warned that no candidate is authorized to declare victory in advance.
"Those who will attempt to announce results of the leadership vote or any self-proclaimed victory against the laws of the nation would have crossed the red line and should be ready to receive penalties commensurate to their offense."
