Can the world's oldest leader keep his position and woo a nation of youthful voters?
The planet's oldest head of state - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has pledged Cameroon's electorate "the future holds promise" as he seeks his eighth straight term in office on Sunday.
The 92-year-old has stayed in power for over four decades - another 7-year mandate could extend his reign for 50 years making him almost a century old.
Election Controversies
He resisted broad demands to leave office and drew backlash for attending just one public appearance, devoting much of the election season on a ten-day personal visit to Europe.
A backlash concerning his reliance on an AI-generated election advertisement, as his challengers actively wooed constituents directly, led to his hurried travel north upon his arrival.
Young Voters and Joblessness
It means that for the large portion of the people, Biya remains the sole leader they have known - above sixty percent of Cameroon's 30 million inhabitants are under the 25 years old.
Young political activist Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "fresh leadership" as she thinks "prolonged leadership typically causes a kind of complacency".
"After 43 years, the population are exhausted," she says.
Youth unemployment has been a specific discussion topic for the majority of the aspirants running in the election.
Almost 40% of youthful Cameroonians aged from 15 to 35 years are jobless, with 23% of college-educated youth facing challenges in securing formal employment.
Opposition Contenders
Beyond young people's job issues, the voting procedure has created dispute, especially with the removal of Maurice Kamto from the leadership competition.
His exclusion, approved by the highest court, was widely criticised as a tactic to block any strong challenge to the current leader.
12 aspirants were cleared to contest for the leadership position, including Issa Tchiroma Bakary and another former ally - both previous Biya colleagues from the northern region of the country.
Voting Challenges
In Cameroon's English-speaking North-West and South-West regions, where a protracted rebellion continues, an election boycott closure has been enforced, paralysing business activities, movement and schooling.
The separatists who have imposed it have threatened to attack people who participates.
Beginning in 2017, those seeking to create a separate nation have been fighting state security.
The violence has to date resulted in at minimum 6,000 individuals and compelled nearly half a million people from their residences.
Election Results
Once polling concludes, the legal body has fifteen days to announce the findings.
The government official has earlier advised that no aspirant is authorized to announce winning prior to official results.
"Individuals who will attempt to reveal findings of the leadership vote or any self-proclaimed victory in violation of the regulations of the country would have broken rules and need to be prepared to receive retaliatory measures appropriate for their violation."
