Can this world's oldest president keep his title and attract a country of youthful voters?
The world's most aged head of state - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has assured the nation's voters "the best is still to come" as he pursues his eighth consecutive presidential term this weekend.
The nonagenarian has stayed in office since 1982 - an additional 7-year term could see him rule for 50 years until he will be almost 100.
Election Issues
He resisted numerous appeals to step down and faced criticism for making merely a single campaign event, using the majority of the political race on a ten-day personal visit to the European continent.
A backlash over his dependence on an AI-generated campaign video, as his opponents sought voters in person, led to his hurried travel to the northern region upon his arrival.
Youth Voters and Joblessness
Consequently for the vast majority of the population, Biya remains the sole leader they remember - over 60% of the nation's 30 million people are younger than the 25 years old.
Young campaigner Marie Flore Mboussi urgently wants "new blood" as she believes "extended rule typically causes a sort of complacency".
"After 43 years, the population are exhausted," she says.
Employment challenges for youth has been a particular issue of concern for nearly all the contenders participating in the political race.
Nearly forty percent of young citizens between 15 and 35 are unemployed, with twenty-three percent of young graduates experiencing problems in obtaining official jobs.
Opposition Candidates
Apart from youth unemployment, the voting procedure has also stirred debate, notably concerning the exclusion of an opposition leader from the election contest.
The disqualification, confirmed by the highest court, was generally denounced as a strategy to prevent any strong challenge to President Biya.
A dozen contenders were cleared to contest for the presidency, comprising Issa Tchiroma Bakary and a previous supporter - the two former Biya associates from the north of the country.
Election Difficulties
In Cameroon's English-speaking North-West and South-West territories, where a long-running insurgency ongoing, an poll avoidance restriction has been established, stopping economic functions, movement and learning.
Insurgents who have enforced it have promised to harm anyone who casts a ballot.
Since 2017, those working toward a breakaway state have been clashing with government forces.
The conflict has so far resulted in at least 6k individuals and forced almost half a million people from their homes.
Vote Outcome
Following the election, the Constitutional Council has fifteen days to declare the outcome.
The interior minister has previously cautioned that no aspirant is allowed to claim success beforehand.
"Those who will seek to declare outcomes of the presidential election or any personal declaration of success contrary to the laws of the country would have crossed the red line and must prepare to receive consequences matching their offense."
