Will the world's most aged leader keep his position and woo a nation of youthful electorate?
The planet's oldest leader - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has promised Cameroon's electorate "the future holds promise" as he aims for his 8th straight term in office on Sunday.
The 92-year-old has already been in power for over four decades - an additional seven-year term could see him rule for half a century until he will be almost 100.
Election Issues
He resisted broad demands to leave office and has been criticised for making merely one rally, spending most of the campaign period on a 10-day private trip to Europe.
Criticism over his reliance on an computer-generated campaign video, as his opponents courted constituents on the ground, saw him rush to the northern region upon his arrival.
Young Population and Unemployment
It means that for the vast majority of the population, Biya is the only president they remember - over sixty percent of the nation's thirty million inhabitants are younger than the 25 years old.
Youthful advocate Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "fresh leadership" as she believes "prolonged leadership inevitably leads to a kind of complacency".
"After 43 years, the citizens are weary," she states.
Employment challenges for youth remains a specific discussion topic for the majority of the aspirants competing in the political race.
Nearly forty percent of youthful citizens between 15-35 are without work, with 23% of young graduates facing challenges in finding regular work.
Rival Contenders
Apart from youth unemployment, the electoral process has also stirred controversy, particularly regarding the removal of Maurice Kamto from the presidential race.
The removal, upheld by the Constitutional Council, was broadly condemned as a strategy to stop any strong challenge to the current leader.
Twelve aspirants were cleared to compete for the presidency, featuring a former minister and another former ally - the two former Biya allies from the northern region of the nation.
Voting Difficulties
Within the nation's Anglophone Northwest and South-West areas, where a protracted rebellion persists, an voting prohibition restriction has been established, stopping commercial operations, travel and learning.
Rebel groups who have enforced it have warned to harm people who participates.
Beginning in 2017, those working toward a independent territory have been clashing with official military.
The violence has so far resulted in at no fewer than six thousand people and caused nearly half a million people from their residences.
Election Results
Once polling concludes, the legal body has 15 days to reveal the outcome.
The interior minister has previously cautioned that none of the contenders is allowed to announce winning in advance.
"Those who will seek to announce results of the leadership vote or any self-proclaimed victory contrary to the regulations of the nation would have broken rules and must prepare to encounter penalties appropriate for their violation."
