Can this world's most aged leader keep the position and attract a country of youthful electorate?
This planet's most aged head of state - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has promised Cameroon's electorate "better days are ahead" as he pursues his 8th straight term in office this weekend.
The elderly leader has remained in power since 1982 - another 7-year mandate could keep him in power for 50 years reaching almost 100.
Election Issues
He ignored widespread calls to step down and has been criticised for only showing up for one public appearance, using the majority of the campaign period on a week-and-a-half personal visit to Europe.
Criticism concerning his use of an computer-generated political commercial, as his rivals sought voters on the ground, prompted his quick return north on his return home.
Young Population and Unemployment
This indicates for the great bulk of the citizenry, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they have known - above sixty percent of Cameroon's 30 million people are under the 25 years old.
Young advocate Marie Flore Mboussi is desperate for "fresh leadership" as she believes "prolonged leadership inevitably leads to a sort of complacency".
"Following four decades, the population are weary," she says.
Employment challenges for youth has been a particular issue of concern for nearly all the aspirants competing in the vote.
Approximately forty percent of youthful citizens between 15 to 35 years are unemployed, with 23% of young graduates encountering difficulties in finding formal employment.
Rival Candidates
Apart from young people's job issues, the election system has generated debate, especially with the disqualification of Maurice Kamto from the presidential race.
His exclusion, approved by the Constitutional Council, was generally denounced as a tactic to stop any significant opposition to President Biya.
12 aspirants were cleared to compete for the leadership position, including an ex-government official and another former ally - each ex- Biya colleagues from the north of the nation.
Voting Difficulties
Within the nation's Anglophone Northwest and Southwest areas, where a long-running insurgency continues, an poll avoidance closure has been established, stopping business activities, travel and schooling.
Insurgents who have established it have threatened to harm individuals who participates.
Beginning in 2017, those seeking to create a separate nation have been battling official military.
The conflict has to date resulted in at minimum six thousand people and caused approximately five hundred thousand people from their houses.
Vote Outcome
Once polling concludes, the highest court has fifteen days to declare the outcome.
The interior minister has earlier advised that no aspirant is allowed to declare victory beforehand.
"Individuals who will seek to declare outcomes of the political race or any self-proclaimed victory in violation of the laws of the republic would have broken rules and should be ready to face retaliatory measures commensurate to their crime."
