Will this world's most aged leader keep his position and woo a nation of youthful voters?
The world's most aged head of state - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has promised Cameroon's voters "the future holds promise" as he pursues his 8th consecutive term in office this weekend.
The elderly leader has stayed in power for over four decades - an additional seven-year term could keep him in power for half a century until he will be almost a century old.
Campaign Issues
He resisted widespread calls to leave office and drew backlash for making merely a single campaign event, spending most of the election season on a 10-day unofficial journey to Europe.
Criticism over his dependence on an AI-generated campaign video, as his rivals courted voters in person, led to his hurried travel to the northern region on his return home.
Youth Population and Unemployment
This indicates for the great bulk of the population, Biya is the only president they have known - more than 60% of Cameroon's thirty million people are below the age of 25.
Youthful political activist Marie Flore Mboussi urgently wants "fresh leadership" as she maintains "prolonged leadership typically causes a type of laziness".
"With 43 years passed, the people are exhausted," she says.
Young people's joblessness has become a notable talking point for nearly all the candidates running in the election.
Almost forty percent of young Cameroonians between 15-35 are jobless, with twenty-three percent of college-educated youth facing challenges in obtaining official jobs.
Rival Candidates
In addition to youth unemployment, the electoral process has created debate, notably concerning the exclusion of a political rival from the election contest.
The disqualification, upheld by the highest court, was widely criticised as a tactic to prevent any significant opposition to President Biya.
12 contenders were authorized to vie for the country's top job, comprising a former minister and Bello Bouba Maigari - both former Biya allies from the northern region of the country.
Election Difficulties
Within the nation's English-speaking Northwest and Southwest territories, where a extended separatist conflict ongoing, an voting prohibition restriction has been imposed, paralysing business activities, travel and learning.
Insurgents who have established it have warned to attack people who participates.
Beginning in 2017, those working toward a separate nation have been battling government forces.
The conflict has so far resulted in at least six thousand people and compelled almost five hundred thousand residents from their homes.
Vote Outcome
Following the election, the Constitutional Council has two weeks to announce the outcome.
The government official has previously cautioned that no candidate is authorized to declare victory beforehand.
"Candidates who will try to announce results of the leadership vote or any self-proclaimed victory contrary to the rules of the republic would have violated boundaries and must prepare to receive penalties commensurate to their offense."
