Can this world's oldest president retain his title and attract a country of young voters?
The planet's most aged leader - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has promised Cameroon's electorate "better days are ahead" as he seeks his 8th straight term in office on Sunday.
The nonagenarian has remained in power since 1982 - another seven-year term could keep him in power for half a century making him almost 100.
Election Issues
He defied numerous appeals to step down and faced criticism for attending just one public appearance, devoting much of the campaign period on a week-and-a-half personal visit to Europe.
Criticism concerning his dependence on an AI-generated political commercial, as his opponents courted voters in person, saw him rush to the northern region after coming back.
Young Population and Joblessness
This indicates for the large portion of the population, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they experienced - more than sixty percent of Cameroon's thirty million inhabitants are younger than the quarter century mark.
Young campaigner Marie Flore Mboussi urgently wants "fresh leadership" as she maintains "extended rule naturally results in a kind of laziness".
"Following four decades, the population are tired," she says.
Youth unemployment has been a specific talking point for nearly all the contenders competing in the vote.
Nearly forty percent of youthful citizens between 15-35 are without work, with 23% of college-educated youth experiencing problems in obtaining formal employment.
Opposition Contenders
In addition to youth unemployment, the election system has generated dispute, especially with the removal of an opposition leader from the leadership competition.
His exclusion, confirmed by the highest court, was generally denounced as a strategy to block any strong challenge to the incumbent.
12 aspirants were approved to vie for the leadership position, comprising Issa Tchiroma Bakary and a previous supporter - each previous Biya associates from the north of the country.
Election Difficulties
In Cameroon's English-speaking North-West and Southwest regions, where a long-running insurgency continues, an election boycott lockdown has been imposed, stopping commercial operations, transport and learning.
Rebel groups who have enforced it have threatened to attack people who casts a ballot.
Starting four years ago, those attempting to establish a separate nation have been battling government forces.
The violence has until now caused the deaths of at no fewer than 6k lives and compelled almost five hundred thousand others from their homes.
Vote Outcome
After Sunday's vote, the highest court has fifteen days to announce the outcome.
The security chief has previously cautioned that no candidate is allowed to announce winning in advance.
"Individuals who will seek to announce results of the leadership vote or any personal declaration of success in violation of the rules of the republic would have violated boundaries and must prepare to encounter retaliatory measures appropriate for their violation."
