Will this planet's oldest president keep his title and attract a country of youthful electorate?
The planet's oldest leader - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has assured Cameroon's electorate "the best is still to come" as he aims for his 8th straight presidential term on Sunday.
The nonagenarian has remained in office for over four decades - an additional 7-year term could keep him in power for half a century reaching almost a century old.
Election Issues
He defied numerous appeals to resign and faced criticism for only showing up for one rally, using the majority of the campaign period on a ten-day private trip to the European continent.
Criticism concerning his reliance on an computer-generated political commercial, as his challengers courted voters on the ground, saw him rush north upon his arrival.
Young Voters and Unemployment
It means that for the vast majority of the people, Biya is the only president they have known - above 60% of the nation's thirty million people are younger than the age of 25.
Youthful political activist Marie Flore Mboussi urgently wants "fresh leadership" as she maintains "extended rule inevitably leads to a kind of laziness".
"Following four decades, the people are weary," she states.
Employment challenges for youth has become a particular discussion topic for the majority of the aspirants participating in the political race.
Almost forty percent of young Cameroonians between 15 to 35 years are unemployed, with 23% of college-educated youth experiencing problems in obtaining formal employment.
Rival Candidates
Beyond youth unemployment, the electoral process has also stirred debate, especially with the removal of an opposition leader from the election contest.
The disqualification, approved by the legal authority, was widely criticised as a tactic to block any serious competition to the current leader.
A dozen aspirants were cleared to vie for the leadership position, featuring Issa Tchiroma Bakary and a previous supporter - both former Biya allies from the north of the country.
Election Challenges
Within the nation's Anglophone North-West and Southwest regions, where a extended separatist conflict ongoing, an poll avoidance closure has been imposed, halting economic functions, movement and schooling.
Rebel groups who have enforced it have promised to harm individuals who does vote.
Since 2017, those attempting to establish a breakaway state have been clashing with state security.
The fighting has to date resulted in at minimum 6,000 people and caused nearly half a million residents from their homes.
Election Results
Once polling concludes, the Constitutional Council has fifteen days to announce the results.
The government official has earlier advised that no candidate is permitted to announce winning beforehand.
"Individuals who will seek to announce results of the presidential election or any personal declaration of success contrary to the laws of the republic would have broken rules and must prepare to receive penalties commensurate to their violation."
