Will this world's most aged leader keep the title and attract a country of young electorate?
The world's most aged head of state - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has assured the nation's electorate "the future holds promise" as he pursues his eighth consecutive presidential term on Sunday.
The 92-year-old has remained in power since 1982 - another seven-year term could keep him in power for half a century making him almost 100.
Campaign Issues
He defied widespread calls to leave office and drew backlash for only showing up for one rally, using the majority of the campaign period on a week-and-a-half personal visit to the European continent.
Negative reaction over his use of an computer-generated campaign video, as his challengers actively wooed voters on the ground, prompted his quick return to the northern region after coming back.
Young Population and Joblessness
It means that for the great bulk of the citizenry, Biya remains the sole leader they have known - above 60% of the nation's thirty million people are below the age of 25.
Youthful campaigner Marie Flore Mboussi is desperate for "different faces" as she believes "extended rule inevitably leads to a kind of inertia".
"Following four decades, the population are weary," she states.
Employment challenges for youth remains a notable discussion topic for the majority of the aspirants participating in the election.
Nearly forty percent of youthful residents between 15 and 35 are without work, with twenty-three percent of recent graduates encountering difficulties in securing formal employment.
Opposition Candidates
Beyond young people's job issues, the voting procedure has generated dispute, notably concerning the removal of Maurice Kamto from the presidential race.
The disqualification, confirmed by the highest court, was generally denounced as a ploy to stop any strong challenge to the current leader.
A dozen contenders were cleared to compete for the country's top job, featuring an ex-government official and Bello Bouba Maigari - each former Biya allies from the northern region of the country.
Election Difficulties
In Cameroon's English-speaking Northwest and South-West regions, where a long-running insurgency continues, an voting prohibition closure has been enforced, stopping economic functions, movement and education.
The separatists who have established it have warned to attack people who does vote.
Starting four years ago, those working toward a breakaway state have been clashing with official military.
The conflict has so far killed at no fewer than 6k individuals and forced almost five hundred thousand people from their residences.
Vote Outcome
After Sunday's vote, the Constitutional Council has 15 days to announce the findings.
The interior minister has already warned that no aspirant is permitted to announce winning prior to official results.
"Individuals who will attempt to announce results of the leadership vote or any self-proclaimed victory contrary to the regulations of the republic would have violated boundaries and must prepare to face retaliatory measures matching their crime."
