Will this world's oldest president retain the position and woo a nation of youthful electorate?
The world's oldest leader - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has promised the nation's electorate "better days are ahead" as he aims for his 8th consecutive term in office this weekend.
The nonagenarian has stayed in power since 1982 - an additional seven-year mandate could keep him in power for 50 years reaching almost a century old.
Election Issues
He resisted broad demands to leave office and has been criticised for attending just one public appearance, using the majority of the political race on a 10-day unofficial journey to the European continent.
A backlash over his reliance on an artificial intelligence created election advertisement, as his rivals courted constituents directly, prompted his quick return north upon his arrival.
Youth Population and Joblessness
Consequently for the vast majority of the citizenry, Biya is the only president they remember - over 60% of Cameroon's thirty million people are younger than the quarter century mark.
Young political activist Marie Flore Mboussi urgently wants "new blood" as she maintains "extended rule naturally results in a type of inertia".
"After 43 years, the people are weary," she declares.
Young people's joblessness remains a particular discussion topic for the majority of the aspirants running in the election.
Approximately 40% of youthful Cameroonians between 15-35 are without work, with twenty-three percent of young graduates encountering difficulties in obtaining official jobs.
Opposition Candidates
Apart from youth unemployment, the voting procedure has also stirred controversy, notably concerning the disqualification of a political rival from the leadership competition.
The disqualification, approved by the highest court, was generally denounced as a tactic to block any significant opposition to the current leader.
12 aspirants were cleared to contest for the presidency, featuring Issa Tchiroma Bakary and Bello Bouba Maigari - each former Biya allies from the northern region of the country.
Voting Difficulties
Within the nation's Anglophone North-West and South-West territories, where a long-running separatist conflict persists, an election boycott lockdown has been imposed, halting commercial operations, transport and learning.
Rebel groups who have established it have warned to target people who does vote.
Beginning in 2017, those working toward a breakaway state have been fighting official military.
The fighting has until now resulted in at no fewer than 6,000 lives and compelled approximately five hundred thousand people from their homes.
Vote Outcome
Following the election, the Constitutional Council has two weeks to reveal the findings.
The security chief has earlier advised that no aspirant is permitted to announce winning beforehand.
"Candidates who will attempt to announce results of the leadership vote or any unofficial win announcement in violation of the laws of the country would have violated boundaries and need to be prepared to receive consequences matching their offense."
