Will the planet's most aged president retain the position and attract a nation of youthful electorate?
The world's most aged leader - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has pledged the nation's electorate "the best is still to come" as he seeks his 8th consecutive presidential term on Sunday.
The nonagenarian has already been in office for over four decades - another seven-year mandate could see him rule for 50 years reaching almost 100.
Election Issues
He resisted numerous appeals to resign and faced criticism for making merely one public appearance, spending most of the campaign period on a 10-day unofficial journey to Europe.
A backlash regarding his use of an computer-generated political commercial, as his challengers actively wooed constituents directly, led to his hurried travel to the northern region upon his arrival.
Young Voters and Joblessness
This indicates for the great bulk of the people, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they experienced - over 60% of the nation's 30 million residents are under the 25 years old.
Youthful campaigner Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "new blood" as she maintains "longevity in power typically causes a kind of inertia".
"With 43 years passed, the citizens are exhausted," she states.
Young people's joblessness has been a particular issue of concern for nearly all the aspirants competing in the vote.
Almost forty percent of youthful Cameroonians aged from 15-35 are unemployed, with twenty-three percent of college-educated youth experiencing problems in finding official jobs.
Opposition Contenders
Beyond youth unemployment, the electoral process has created debate, notably concerning the disqualification of an opposition leader from the election contest.
His exclusion, upheld by the legal authority, was generally denounced as a strategy to stop any serious competition to President Biya.
Twelve aspirants were cleared to compete for the leadership position, comprising an ex-government official and another former ally - each ex- Biya allies from the north of the nation.
Voting Difficulties
Within the nation's English-speaking Northwest and Southwest territories, where a extended separatist conflict continues, an election boycott lockdown has been established, halting business activities, travel and schooling.
Rebel groups who have imposed it have warned to harm people who does vote.
Beginning in 2017, those working toward a separate nation have been battling official military.
The fighting has so far killed at no fewer than six thousand people and forced nearly five hundred thousand people from their residences.
Vote Outcome
After Sunday's vote, the legal body has 15 days to declare the results.
The interior minister has previously cautioned that none of the contenders is authorized to announce winning in advance.
"Individuals who will attempt to declare outcomes of the political race or any personal declaration of success contrary to the laws of the republic would have broken rules and need to be prepared to encounter penalties commensurate to their violation."
