Will the planet's most aged president retain his position and woo a nation of youthful electorate?
The world's most aged head of state - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has pledged Cameroon's voters "the future holds promise" as he seeks his 8th consecutive presidential term this weekend.
The nonagenarian has already been in power since 1982 - an additional 7-year mandate could extend his reign for 50 years reaching almost 100.
Election Issues
He defied broad demands to step down and drew backlash for only showing up for a single campaign event, devoting much of the political race on a 10-day unofficial journey to the European continent.
A backlash over his dependence on an AI-generated election advertisement, as his challengers sought supporters in person, led to his hurried travel north upon his arrival.
Young Population and Joblessness
It means that for the vast majority of the population, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they remember - above sixty percent of the nation's 30 million residents are under the age of 25.
Youthful advocate Marie Flore Mboussi is desperate for "fresh leadership" as she believes "prolonged leadership inevitably leads to a kind of laziness".
"Following four decades, the people are exhausted," she says.
Young people's joblessness has become a notable issue of concern for nearly all the contenders participating in the political race.
Approximately forty percent of youthful citizens aged from 15-35 are jobless, with 23% of recent graduates encountering difficulties in finding formal employment.
Opposition Candidates
Beyond young people's job issues, the election system has created controversy, particularly regarding the removal of a political rival from the election contest.
His exclusion, upheld by the legal authority, was generally denounced as a tactic to prevent any strong challenge to the incumbent.
A dozen contenders were approved to compete for the presidency, featuring a former minister and a previous supporter - the two ex- Biya allies from the north of the nation.
Voting Challenges
In Cameroon's Anglophone North-West and Southwest territories, where a extended insurgency continues, an election boycott closure has been established, stopping economic functions, movement and learning.
Rebel groups who have established it have promised to attack anyone who participates.
Beginning in 2017, those attempting to establish a separate nation have been clashing with government forces.
The conflict has to date killed at least 6,000 individuals and compelled almost half a million people from their homes.
Vote Outcome
Following the election, the Constitutional Council has fifteen days to reveal the outcome.
The government official has previously cautioned that no aspirant is permitted to announce winning in advance.
"Candidates who will seek to declare outcomes of the political race or any personal declaration of success against the laws of the republic would have crossed the red line and should be ready to receive retaliatory measures commensurate to their crime."
