Will this world's most aged president retain his title and woo a country of young voters?
This world's oldest head of state - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has assured the nation's electorate "the best is still to come" as he seeks his 8th consecutive presidential term on Sunday.
The elderly leader has already been in office since 1982 - an additional 7-year mandate could keep him in power for half a century making him almost a century old.
Campaign Controversies
He resisted widespread calls to leave office and faced criticism for only showing up for one public appearance, devoting much of the election season on a ten-day private trip to the European continent.
A backlash regarding his use of an artificial intelligence created campaign video, as his opponents sought supporters in person, saw him rush to the northern region after coming back.
Young Voters and Unemployment
This indicates for the large portion of the people, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they experienced - above sixty percent of Cameroon's 30 million inhabitants are below the 25 years old.
Youthful campaigner Marie Flore Mboussi urgently wants "new blood" as she thinks "longevity in power naturally results in a kind of laziness".
"Following four decades, the citizens are weary," she states.
Employment challenges for youth has become a notable talking point for nearly all the candidates participating in the political race.
Approximately forty percent of youthful residents aged from 15 and 35 are unemployed, with 23% of college-educated youth experiencing problems in securing formal employment.
Rival Contenders
In addition to youth unemployment, the voting procedure has also stirred dispute, particularly regarding the disqualification of an opposition leader from the election contest.
His exclusion, upheld by the Constitutional Council, was generally denounced as a tactic to prevent any strong challenge to President Biya.
Twelve candidates were authorized to vie for the presidency, comprising a former minister and Bello Bouba Maigari - the two former Biya allies from the northern region of the country.
Election Challenges
Within the nation's English-speaking Northwest and South-West areas, where a long-running rebellion persists, an election boycott restriction has been enforced, halting commercial operations, movement and schooling.
Insurgents who have imposed it have warned to target people who participates.
Starting four years ago, those working toward a breakaway state have been fighting government forces.
The violence has so far killed at least 6k people and caused nearly half a million others from their homes.
Election Results
After Sunday's vote, the highest court has 15 days to announce the results.
The government official has previously cautioned that no candidate is authorized to announce winning prior to official results.
"Candidates who will attempt to reveal findings of the political race or any unofficial win announcement against the rules of the nation would have violated boundaries and must prepare to encounter consequences appropriate for their crime."
