Can the planet's most aged president keep his position and attract a country of youthful electorate?
The world's most aged head of state - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has assured the nation's voters "the best is still to come" as he pursues his eighth straight term in office this weekend.
The nonagenarian has already been in power for over four decades - an additional 7-year term could extend his reign for half a century reaching almost 100.
Election Controversies
He resisted numerous appeals to step down and drew backlash for only showing up for one public appearance, spending most of the campaign period on a week-and-a-half unofficial journey to Europe.
A backlash regarding his use of an AI-generated election advertisement, as his rivals actively wooed supporters in person, prompted his quick return to the northern region on his return home.
Young Voters and Unemployment
This indicates for the great bulk of the population, Biya remains the sole leader they have known - above sixty percent of the nation's 30 million residents are below the age of 25.
Youthful campaigner Marie Flore Mboussi urgently wants "fresh leadership" as she believes "prolonged leadership naturally results in a type of laziness".
"Following four decades, the population are tired," she says.
Youth unemployment has become a notable talking point for the majority of the candidates competing in the vote.
Nearly forty percent of youthful residents aged from 15 to 35 years are jobless, with 23% of young graduates facing challenges in securing regular work.
Opposition Contenders
Beyond young people's job issues, the election system has also stirred debate, notably concerning the exclusion of Maurice Kamto from the election contest.
The disqualification, confirmed by the Constitutional Council, was broadly condemned as a strategy to block any serious competition to the incumbent.
Twelve aspirants were cleared to contest for the leadership position, including Issa Tchiroma Bakary and another former ally - both ex- Biya allies from the north of the nation.
Voting Challenges
In Cameroon's English-speaking Northwest and South-West areas, where a protracted separatist conflict ongoing, an voting prohibition closure has been enforced, stopping economic functions, transport and schooling.
Insurgents who have imposed it have promised to target people who casts a ballot.
Starting four years ago, those working toward a independent territory have been fighting government forces.
The conflict has so far resulted in at minimum six thousand people and forced approximately half a million people from their residences.
Election Results
Once polling concludes, the Constitutional Council has two weeks to announce the outcome.
The interior minister has previously cautioned that none of the contenders is allowed to declare victory prior to official results.
"Candidates who will try to reveal findings of the political race or any unofficial win announcement in violation of the rules of the nation would have crossed the red line and should be ready to receive consequences matching their crime."
