Will this world's oldest leader keep the title and woo a nation of young voters?
The world's oldest head of state - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has pledged Cameroon's voters "the future holds promise" as he aims for his 8th straight term in office on Sunday.
The elderly leader has remained in office since 1982 - another seven-year term could extend his reign for half a century until he will be almost a century old.
Campaign Controversies
He ignored numerous appeals to leave office and has been criticised for only showing up for a single campaign event, spending most of the campaign period on a week-and-a-half personal visit to the European continent.
Negative reaction regarding his reliance on an computer-generated campaign video, as his challengers actively wooed constituents directly, led to his hurried travel north after coming back.
Young Population and Joblessness
Consequently for the great bulk of the people, Biya remains the sole leader they have known - more than 60% of Cameroon's thirty million inhabitants are younger than the quarter century mark.
Young political activist Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "fresh leadership" as she believes "longevity in power inevitably leads to a sort of laziness".
"After 43 years, the citizens are weary," she says.
Employment challenges for youth has become a specific issue of concern for nearly all the aspirants competing in the political race.
Almost 40% of youthful citizens between 15-35 are jobless, with 23% of recent graduates encountering difficulties in obtaining official jobs.
Opposition Contenders
Beyond young people's job issues, the electoral process has created controversy, especially with the disqualification of Maurice Kamto from the presidential race.
The removal, upheld by the Constitutional Council, was broadly condemned as a strategy to stop any significant opposition to the current leader.
12 aspirants were authorized to vie for the country's top job, featuring an ex-government official and Bello Bouba Maigari - each ex- Biya allies from the north of the nation.
Voting Difficulties
In Cameroon's English-speaking North-West and South-West territories, where a extended separatist conflict ongoing, an election boycott restriction has been enforced, stopping commercial operations, travel and learning.
Insurgents who have enforced it have promised to target people who participates.
Starting four years ago, those working toward a separate nation have been battling official military.
The violence has until now resulted in at no fewer than six thousand people and compelled nearly five hundred thousand others from their homes.
Vote Outcome
Once polling concludes, the highest court has fifteen days to announce the results.
The security chief 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 self-proclaimed victory contrary to the laws of the nation would have violated boundaries and must prepare to face penalties commensurate to their crime."
