Can the world's oldest leader retain his title and woo a nation of young electorate?
The world's most aged leader - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has assured Cameroon's voters "the best is still to come" as he aims for his eighth consecutive term in office this weekend.
The 92-year-old has remained in power since 1982 - another 7-year mandate could keep him in power for 50 years until he will be almost 100.
Election Controversies
He defied numerous appeals to leave office and drew backlash for only showing up for one rally, devoting much of the political race on a week-and-a-half private trip to the European continent.
Negative reaction concerning his reliance on an AI-generated political commercial, as his opponents courted voters in person, saw him rush north upon his arrival.
Youth Voters and Joblessness
Consequently for the great bulk of the citizenry, Biya is the only president they experienced - over 60% of Cameroon's 30 million residents are below the age of 25.
Young advocate Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "new blood" as she believes "prolonged leadership typically causes a kind of laziness".
"After 43 years, the people are exhausted," she states.
Young people's joblessness has become a notable discussion topic for most of the aspirants competing in the election.
Almost forty percent of young Cameroonians aged from 15 and 35 are jobless, with twenty-three percent of young graduates experiencing problems in finding official jobs.
Rival Contenders
In addition to youth unemployment, the voting procedure has also stirred dispute, particularly regarding the disqualification of an opposition leader from the presidential race.
His exclusion, approved by the highest court, was widely criticised as a ploy to block any strong challenge to President Biya.
A dozen aspirants were cleared to vie for the presidency, featuring an ex-government official and a previous supporter - both previous Biya associates from the north of the country.
Election Difficulties
In Cameroon's English-speaking North-West and South-West regions, where a long-running separatist conflict persists, an election boycott closure has been imposed, paralysing economic functions, travel and education.
Rebel groups who have established it have warned to target individuals who participates.
Starting four years ago, those attempting to establish a separate nation have been fighting government forces.
The fighting has so far caused the deaths of at no fewer than 6,000 people and forced nearly half a million residents from their residences.
Vote Outcome
After Sunday's vote, the highest court has 15 days to declare the findings.
The interior minister has earlier advised that no aspirant is authorized to claim success beforehand.
"Candidates who will try to announce results of the presidential election or any unofficial win announcement against the rules of the republic would have violated boundaries and must prepare to receive consequences matching their offense."
