Will the world's oldest president keep the title and woo a nation of youthful electorate?
This planet's most aged leader - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has promised Cameroon's electorate "the future holds promise" as he pursues his 8th consecutive term in office this weekend.
The nonagenarian has already been in office since 1982 - another seven-year term could see him rule for half a century making him almost 100.
Election Issues
He resisted numerous appeals to leave office and faced criticism for only showing up for one rally, spending most of the campaign period on a 10-day unofficial journey to the European continent.
Negative reaction regarding his reliance on an AI-generated campaign video, as his challengers sought voters on the ground, prompted his quick return north after coming back.
Young Voters and Joblessness
Consequently for the great bulk of the people, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they experienced - over 60% of the nation's 30 million people are under the quarter century mark.
Youthful political activist Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "new blood" as she maintains "extended rule naturally results in a sort of inertia".
"With 43 years passed, the citizens are exhausted," she says.
Young people's joblessness has been a specific issue of concern for the majority of the contenders running in the vote.
Almost forty percent of young residents aged from 15 to 35 years are unemployed, with twenty-three percent of young graduates experiencing problems in obtaining formal employment.
Rival Contenders
In addition to youth unemployment, the voting procedure has created debate, especially with the exclusion of a political rival from the presidential race.
His exclusion, upheld by the legal authority, was broadly condemned as a ploy to prevent any strong challenge to President Biya.
Twelve contenders were cleared to compete for the presidency, including Issa Tchiroma Bakary and another former ally - the two ex- Biya colleagues from the north of the country.
Voting Difficulties
In Cameroon's Anglophone Northwest and South-West regions, where a protracted separatist conflict continues, an poll avoidance lockdown has been established, stopping commercial operations, transport and education.
Insurgents who have imposed it have threatened to attack individuals who participates.
Starting four years ago, those seeking to create a independent territory have been clashing with official military.
The conflict has so far resulted in at least six thousand people and caused approximately half a million residents from their residences.
Vote Outcome
After Sunday's vote, the Constitutional Council has 15 days to declare the findings.
The security chief has already warned that none of the contenders is allowed to claim success in advance.
"Those who will seek to announce results of the presidential election or any self-proclaimed victory in violation of the rules of the country would have crossed the red line and should be ready to encounter retaliatory measures commensurate to their violation."
