Will the planet's oldest president keep his position and attract a nation of young voters?
The planet's most aged leader - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has assured Cameroon's electorate "better days are ahead" as he pursues his 8th consecutive presidential term this weekend.
The elderly leader has stayed in office for over four decades - an additional seven-year mandate could keep him in power for half a century reaching almost 100.
Election Controversies
He defied broad demands to resign and drew backlash for making merely one rally, devoting much of the campaign period on a 10-day unofficial journey to the European continent.
A backlash over his reliance on an artificial intelligence created political commercial, as his challengers actively wooed voters in person, saw him rush north on his return home.
Young Population and Unemployment
This indicates for the large portion of the people, Biya remains the sole leader they experienced - more than sixty percent of Cameroon's 30 million people are under the quarter century mark.
Young campaigner Marie Flore Mboussi urgently wants "new blood" as she believes "extended rule naturally results in a kind of complacency".
"With 43 years passed, the people are weary," she states.
Youth unemployment has become a particular talking point for most of the aspirants competing in the political race.
Approximately 40% of young Cameroonians between 15 and 35 are unemployed, with 23% of college-educated youth experiencing problems in obtaining regular work.
Opposition Contenders
In addition to youth unemployment, the election system has created dispute, especially with the disqualification of a political rival from the leadership competition.
The removal, approved by the legal authority, was generally denounced as a tactic to block any serious competition to the incumbent.
12 candidates were approved to contest for the country's top job, comprising an ex-government official and Bello Bouba Maigari - the two previous Biya allies from the northern region of the country.
Voting Difficulties
Within the nation's English-speaking North-West and South-West areas, where a extended separatist conflict ongoing, an poll avoidance restriction has been enforced, halting economic functions, transport and education.
Insurgents who have imposed it have threatened to target anyone who participates.
Beginning in 2017, those working toward a breakaway state have been fighting official military.
The conflict has until now killed at no fewer than 6,000 lives and compelled nearly 500,000 others from their houses.
Election Results
After Sunday's vote, the legal body has two weeks to declare the findings.
The interior minister has already warned that no candidate is permitted to announce winning prior to official results.
"Individuals who will try to announce results of the political race or any personal declaration of success against the rules of the country would have broken rules and must prepare to receive consequences commensurate to their offense."
