Will the planet's oldest president keep his position and attract a country of youthful voters?
The planet's oldest leader - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has assured Cameroon's electorate "the best is still to come" as he seeks his eighth consecutive presidential term on Sunday.
The nonagenarian has stayed in power for over four decades - an additional seven-year term could extend his reign for 50 years making him almost 100.
Campaign Controversies
He ignored numerous appeals to leave office and drew backlash for attending just one public appearance, using the majority of the campaign period on a ten-day unofficial journey to the European continent.
Criticism over his reliance on an AI-generated political commercial, as his opponents actively wooed constituents on the ground, prompted his quick return to the northern region upon his arrival.
Young Population and Joblessness
Consequently for the large portion of the citizenry, Biya remains the sole leader they remember - over sixty percent of Cameroon's thirty million people are under the quarter century mark.
Youthful advocate Marie Flore Mboussi urgently wants "different faces" as she believes "prolonged leadership naturally results in a sort of laziness".
"Following four decades, the population are tired," she declares.
Youth unemployment has become a notable issue of concern for nearly all the aspirants participating in the political race.
Almost 40% of youthful residents between 15 to 35 years are jobless, with twenty-three percent of college-educated youth encountering difficulties in finding regular work.
Opposition Contenders
In addition to young people's job issues, the electoral process has created debate, particularly regarding the disqualification of a political rival from the leadership competition.
His exclusion, approved by the highest court, was broadly condemned as a ploy to block any strong challenge to the incumbent.
Twelve candidates were authorized to compete for the leadership position, comprising an ex-government official and a previous supporter - the two former Biya colleagues from the northern region of the country.
Election Difficulties
In Cameroon's English-speaking Northwest and South-West areas, where a long-running rebellion ongoing, an voting prohibition lockdown has been enforced, halting commercial operations, travel and education.
Insurgents who have enforced it have promised to harm individuals who does vote.
Starting four years ago, those seeking to create a independent territory have been fighting official military.
The violence has until now caused the deaths of at least six thousand people and forced approximately half a million people from their residences.
Election Results
After Sunday's vote, the legal body has two weeks to reveal the findings.
The government official has earlier advised that no candidate is authorized to claim success beforehand.
"Those who will seek to declare outcomes of the political race or any unofficial win announcement contrary to the rules of the nation would have violated boundaries and must prepare to encounter consequences matching their violation."
