Will this planet's most aged leader keep his title and woo a country of young electorate?
This world's most aged head of state - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has assured the nation's electorate "the best is still to come" as he seeks his eighth straight term in office this weekend.
The nonagenarian has stayed in office for over four decades - an additional seven-year mandate could see him rule for half a century reaching almost a century old.
Campaign Controversies
He resisted numerous appeals to leave office and drew backlash for only showing up for one rally, spending most of the election season on a week-and-a-half personal visit to the European continent.
Negative reaction over his use of an artificial intelligence created political commercial, as his challengers sought voters directly, saw him rush to the northern region upon his arrival.
Youth Voters and Joblessness
Consequently for the great bulk of the population, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they have known - above sixty percent of the nation's thirty million people are below the age of 25.
Young political activist Marie Flore Mboussi urgently wants "new blood" as she thinks "prolonged leadership inevitably leads to a type of laziness".
"Following four decades, the people are exhausted," she declares.
Employment challenges for youth has been a particular discussion topic for the majority of the candidates running in the political race.
Nearly forty percent of young Cameroonians aged from 15 and 35 are without work, with twenty-three percent of recent graduates experiencing problems in securing formal employment.
Opposition Contenders
In addition to young people's job issues, the voting procedure has created dispute, particularly regarding the removal of Maurice Kamto from the election contest.
His exclusion, confirmed by the highest court, was generally denounced as a ploy to block any strong challenge to the incumbent.
12 candidates were cleared to compete for the leadership position, featuring a former minister and another former ally - both previous Biya associates from the northern region of the country.
Election Difficulties
In Cameroon's Anglophone North-West and South-West areas, where a extended insurgency ongoing, an poll avoidance restriction has been enforced, halting commercial operations, travel and education.
The separatists who have enforced it have promised to attack anyone who does vote.
Starting four years ago, those seeking to create a separate nation have been clashing with state security.
The fighting has to date killed at least 6,000 people and forced almost five hundred thousand residents from their houses.
Election Results
Following the election, the highest court has two weeks to reveal the findings.
The interior minister has previously cautioned that no candidate is allowed to announce winning beforehand.
"Those who will try to reveal findings of the leadership vote or any personal declaration of success contrary to the rules of the nation would have violated boundaries and need to be prepared to encounter retaliatory measures commensurate to their violation."
