Can the world's most aged president retain his position and attract a nation of young voters?
The world's most aged leader - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has promised the nation's electorate "better days are ahead" as he seeks his eighth consecutive term in office this weekend.
The nonagenarian has stayed in office since 1982 - another 7-year term could extend his reign for half a century until he will be almost 100.
Election Issues
He resisted widespread calls to leave office and has been criticised for attending just a single campaign event, using the majority of the campaign period on a ten-day unofficial journey to the European continent.
Criticism concerning his dependence on an AI-generated campaign video, as his opponents sought voters in person, led to his hurried travel to the northern region upon his arrival.
Young Voters and Unemployment
This indicates for the large portion of the citizenry, Biya is the only president they experienced - more than 60% of the nation's thirty million inhabitants are under the quarter century mark.
Young political activist Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "fresh leadership" as she believes "longevity in power inevitably leads to a sort of inertia".
"With 43 years passed, the population are exhausted," she says.
Youth unemployment has become a notable issue of concern for most of the contenders competing in the election.
Approximately 40% of youthful Cameroonians aged from 15 and 35 are jobless, with twenty-three percent of recent graduates encountering difficulties in finding formal employment.
Opposition Candidates
Apart from youth unemployment, the election system has also stirred controversy, especially with the exclusion of a political rival from the election contest.
His exclusion, upheld by the Constitutional Council, was widely criticised as a ploy to block any serious competition to the current leader.
12 contenders were approved to vie for the presidency, featuring an ex-government official and Bello Bouba Maigari - each former Biya colleagues from the northern region of the country.
Voting Challenges
In Cameroon's English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions, where a protracted rebellion continues, an election boycott closure has been established, halting business activities, movement and learning.
Insurgents who have established it have warned to attack anyone who casts a ballot.
Beginning in 2017, those seeking to create a independent territory have been fighting state security.
The fighting has until now resulted in at least 6,000 lives and caused nearly 500,000 people from their houses.
Election Results
Once polling concludes, the highest court has two weeks to reveal the results.
The interior minister has already warned that no candidate is permitted to announce winning in advance.
"Candidates who will attempt to declare outcomes of the leadership vote or any unofficial win announcement in violation of the rules of the nation would have violated boundaries and must prepare to receive consequences appropriate for their violation."
