Can the world's most aged leader retain his title and woo a nation of youthful electorate?
The planet's most aged leader - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has pledged the nation's voters "the best is still to come" as he aims for his 8th straight term in office on Sunday.
The elderly leader has stayed in power since 1982 - another 7-year term could extend his reign for half a century making him almost 100.
Election Issues
He ignored widespread calls to resign and drew backlash for making merely one public appearance, using the majority of the political race on a 10-day personal visit to the European continent.
Negative reaction regarding his reliance on an computer-generated campaign video, as his opponents sought voters on the ground, led to his hurried travel to the northern region on his return home.
Youth Voters and Unemployment
It means that for the large portion of the citizenry, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they remember - over 60% of Cameroon's 30 million people are younger than the quarter century mark.
Young campaigner Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "fresh leadership" as she maintains "longevity in power typically causes a kind of laziness".
"After 43 years, the population are exhausted," she says.
Employment challenges for youth has been a specific talking point for nearly all the candidates running in the vote.
Nearly 40% of young Cameroonians between 15 and 35 are unemployed, with 23% of young graduates experiencing problems in obtaining formal employment.
Rival Contenders
Apart from youth unemployment, the electoral process has generated controversy, particularly regarding the removal of Maurice Kamto from the leadership competition.
The disqualification, approved by the legal authority, was widely criticised as a ploy to prevent any significant opposition to the current leader.
12 contenders were approved to compete for the presidency, comprising an ex-government official and Bello Bouba Maigari - the two ex- Biya colleagues from the north of the nation.
Election Challenges
Within the nation's Anglophone North-West and Southwest areas, where a extended rebellion ongoing, an voting prohibition lockdown has been imposed, paralysing commercial operations, travel and education.
Rebel groups who have established it have threatened to harm people who does vote.
Beginning in 2017, those seeking to create a independent territory have been battling state security.
The conflict has to date killed at least six thousand individuals and forced approximately half a million others from their homes.
Vote Outcome
Once polling concludes, the highest court has 15 days to reveal the findings.
The interior minister has earlier advised that no aspirant is authorized to claim success beforehand.
"Those who will attempt to reveal findings of the leadership vote or any self-proclaimed victory in violation of the rules of the nation would have broken rules and should be ready to receive retaliatory measures matching their offense."
