Will the world's oldest leader keep his title and attract a country of young voters?
The world's oldest leader - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has assured the nation's electorate "the best is still to come" as he seeks his 8th straight term in office on Sunday.
The 92-year-old has remained in power for over four decades - an additional seven-year mandate could see him rule for 50 years reaching almost 100.
Campaign Controversies
He ignored widespread calls to resign and drew backlash for only showing up for one public appearance, devoting much of the political race on a 10-day private trip to the European continent.
Negative reaction concerning his dependence on an computer-generated election advertisement, as his challengers sought voters directly, prompted his quick return to the northern region after coming back.
Young Population and Unemployment
Consequently for the vast majority of the people, Biya is the only president they have known - above 60% of Cameroon's thirty million residents are below the age of 25.
Youthful campaigner Marie Flore Mboussi is desperate for "different faces" as she maintains "longevity in power naturally results in a type of complacency".
"After 43 years, the population are weary," she says.
Youth unemployment remains a specific discussion topic for nearly all the candidates competing in the vote.
Almost forty percent of young citizens aged from 15-35 are jobless, with twenty-three percent of recent graduates facing challenges in securing official jobs.
Rival Candidates
Apart from young people's job issues, the voting procedure has also stirred dispute, especially with the disqualification of an opposition leader from the leadership competition.
The disqualification, upheld by the Constitutional Council, was broadly condemned as a tactic to prevent any strong challenge to the current leader.
A dozen candidates were authorized to contest for the leadership position, including Issa Tchiroma Bakary and a previous supporter - both former Biya allies from the north of the country.
Election Difficulties
In Cameroon's English-speaking Northwest and South-West regions, where a extended rebellion ongoing, an poll avoidance restriction has been imposed, paralysing commercial operations, movement and education.
Insurgents who have enforced it have threatened to target individuals who does vote.
Beginning in 2017, those attempting to establish a separate nation have been battling official military.
The fighting has to date killed at minimum 6k people and caused nearly half a million others from their residences.
Election Results
After Sunday's vote, the legal body has 15 days to announce the results.
The interior minister has earlier advised that none of the contenders is authorized to claim success in advance.
"Individuals who will seek to announce results of the leadership vote or any self-proclaimed victory against the laws of the nation would have violated boundaries and should be ready to receive penalties matching their offense."
