Can this planet's most aged leader retain his title and attract a nation of youthful voters?
The planet's most aged head of state - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has promised Cameroon's electorate "the future holds promise" as he seeks his 8th straight term in office on Sunday.
The elderly leader has already been in power for over four decades - an additional 7-year term could extend his reign for half a century until he will be almost a century old.
Election Controversies
He ignored broad demands to leave office and drew backlash for attending just a single campaign event, 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 campaign video, as his opponents actively wooed supporters directly, prompted his quick return to the northern region upon his arrival.
Youth Voters and Unemployment
Consequently for the great bulk of the citizenry, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they remember - above 60% of Cameroon's thirty million residents are younger than the age of 25.
Young campaigner Marie Flore Mboussi is desperate for "fresh leadership" as she maintains "longevity in power inevitably leads to a sort of complacency".
"After 43 years, the population are weary," she declares.
Youth unemployment has become a particular discussion topic for the majority of the contenders competing in the election.
Nearly 40% of young citizens aged from 15 to 35 years are unemployed, with twenty-three percent of young graduates facing challenges in securing regular work.
Rival Contenders
In addition to youth unemployment, the voting procedure has created controversy, especially with the disqualification of an opposition leader from the presidential race.
The removal, confirmed by the highest court, was widely criticised as a strategy to stop any strong challenge to the incumbent.
Twelve contenders were approved to compete for the country's top job, featuring Issa Tchiroma Bakary and another former ally - both previous Biya associates from the north of the nation.
Voting Difficulties
Within the nation's Anglophone North-West and Southwest regions, where a extended separatist conflict persists, an voting prohibition lockdown has been imposed, paralysing business activities, movement and learning.
Rebel groups who have established it have warned to target people who does vote.
Starting four years ago, those attempting to establish a separate nation have been battling state security.
The fighting has to date resulted in at least 6k lives and caused almost half a million residents from their residences.
Election Results
Following the election, the Constitutional Council has two weeks to announce the outcome.
The interior minister has earlier advised that none of the contenders is authorized to claim success in advance.
"Individuals who will attempt to reveal findings of the leadership vote or any personal declaration of success contrary to the laws of the republic would have crossed the red line and must prepare to face consequences matching their offense."
