Can the world's oldest leader keep his title and attract a nation of youthful voters?
This world's oldest head of state - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has assured the nation's voters "the best is still to come" as he aims for his eighth straight term in office on Sunday.
The 92-year-old has stayed in office since 1982 - another 7-year term could keep him in power for half a century until he will be almost 100.
Election Controversies
He resisted numerous appeals to leave office 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.
Negative reaction regarding his use of an artificial intelligence created campaign video, as his opponents sought constituents directly, prompted his quick return north upon his arrival.
Youth Population and Unemployment
It means that for the large portion of the people, Biya is the only president they experienced - more than sixty percent of the nation's thirty million residents are below the age of 25.
Youthful political activist Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "new blood" as she thinks "prolonged leadership typically causes a kind of laziness".
"After 43 years, the people are exhausted," she states.
Young people's joblessness remains a notable discussion topic for nearly all the contenders participating in the election.
Approximately forty percent of youthful citizens aged from 15 and 35 are without work, with 23% of recent graduates encountering difficulties in securing regular work.
Opposition Contenders
Apart from young people's job issues, the voting procedure has generated controversy, notably concerning the disqualification of Maurice Kamto from the leadership competition.
The removal, approved by the Constitutional Council, was generally denounced as a strategy to block any significant opposition to President Biya.
A dozen aspirants were cleared to contest for the presidency, comprising a former minister and another former ally - the two former Biya allies from the north of the nation.
Voting Challenges
Within the nation's English-speaking Northwest and South-West territories, where a long-running insurgency persists, an poll avoidance lockdown has been enforced, stopping business activities, movement and education.
Insurgents who have established it have threatened to target individuals who casts a ballot.
Starting four years ago, those seeking to create a breakaway state have been battling official military.
The conflict has until now resulted in at no fewer than 6k individuals and forced approximately five hundred thousand people from their houses.
Vote Outcome
After Sunday's vote, the legal body has 15 days to declare the results.
The interior minister has previously cautioned that none of the contenders is authorized to announce winning prior to official results.
"Individuals who will attempt to announce results of the political race or any unofficial win announcement in violation of the regulations of the country would have broken rules and should be ready to face consequences appropriate for their offense."
