Will the world's oldest leader keep his title and woo a nation of youthful electorate?
This world's oldest leader - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has pledged the nation's electorate "better days are ahead" as he pursues his eighth consecutive presidential term on Sunday.
The nonagenarian has stayed in office since 1982 - an additional 7-year mandate could keep him in power for 50 years making him almost 100.
Election Controversies
He defied broad demands to leave office and faced criticism for making merely one rally, using the majority of the political race on a ten-day unofficial journey to Europe.
Negative reaction regarding his use of an computer-generated political commercial, as his rivals courted supporters on the ground, prompted his quick return north after coming back.
Young Population and Unemployment
It means that for the great bulk of the citizenry, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they experienced - above 60% of the nation's thirty million residents are below the age of 25.
Young advocate Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "new blood" as she believes "longevity in power naturally results in a type of laziness".
"Following four decades, the people are weary," she says.
Young people's joblessness has become a specific discussion topic for most of the contenders running in the election.
Almost forty percent of young residents aged from 15 to 35 years are without work, with twenty-three percent of young graduates facing challenges in securing regular work.
Rival Contenders
In addition to youth unemployment, the election system has also stirred debate, particularly regarding the exclusion of Maurice Kamto from the leadership competition.
His exclusion, approved by the legal authority, was widely criticised as a tactic to prevent any significant opposition to the incumbent.
12 aspirants were authorized to compete for the presidency, featuring a former minister and another former ally - each former Biya colleagues from the northern region of the nation.
Election Difficulties
In Cameroon's English-speaking Northwest and South-West territories, where a protracted insurgency ongoing, an voting prohibition restriction has been imposed, paralysing commercial operations, movement and education.
Insurgents who have imposed it have warned to target anyone who does vote.
Beginning in 2017, those seeking to create a breakaway state have been fighting official military.
The violence has to date caused the deaths of at no fewer than 6k individuals and caused almost 500,000 people from their residences.
Vote Outcome
Once polling concludes, the Constitutional Council has 15 days to reveal the results.
The government official has previously cautioned that no candidate is allowed to claim success beforehand.
"Those who will attempt to announce results of the presidential election or any self-proclaimed victory in violation of the rules of the country would have broken rules and must prepare to face retaliatory measures commensurate to their offense."
