Can this planet's most aged leader keep his position and attract a nation of young electorate?
This world's oldest leader - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has assured Cameroon's voters "better days are ahead" as he pursues his 8th straight term in office this weekend.
The 92-year-old has remained in office for over four decades - another seven-year term could extend his reign for half a century until he will be almost a century old.
Campaign Controversies
He resisted broad demands to resign and faced criticism for attending just one rally, using the majority of the campaign period on a ten-day personal visit to the European continent.
Criticism regarding his dependence on an artificial intelligence created election advertisement, as his challengers actively wooed constituents directly, saw him rush north upon his arrival.
Youth Population and Unemployment
This indicates for the vast majority of the people, Biya is the only president they experienced - more than sixty percent of the nation's thirty million people are below the quarter century mark.
Youthful political activist Marie Flore Mboussi is desperate for "new blood" as she thinks "extended rule inevitably leads to a kind of laziness".
"Following four decades, the population are weary," she states.
Employment challenges for youth has become a notable talking point for the majority of the aspirants participating in the political race.
Approximately 40% of young Cameroonians between 15-35 are jobless, with 23% of recent graduates facing challenges in obtaining official jobs.
Rival Candidates
Beyond young people's job issues, the electoral process has also stirred controversy, particularly regarding the removal of an opposition leader from the leadership competition.
His exclusion, upheld by the highest court, was generally denounced as a ploy to block any serious competition to President Biya.
Twelve candidates were cleared to contest for the presidency, including Issa Tchiroma Bakary and a previous supporter - both former Biya associates from the northern region of the country.
Voting Difficulties
Within the nation's English-speaking Northwest and Southwest areas, where a long-running insurgency ongoing, an voting prohibition closure has been enforced, halting business activities, travel and learning.
Rebel groups who have imposed it have threatened to target people who participates.
Beginning in 2017, those seeking to create a independent territory have been fighting government forces.
The violence has to date resulted in at least 6k individuals and compelled approximately five hundred thousand people from their houses.
Election Results
Once polling concludes, the highest court has two weeks to announce the results.
The security chief has previously cautioned that none of the contenders is authorized to announce winning beforehand.
"Candidates who will try to announce results of the presidential election or any personal declaration of success against the laws of the nation would have violated boundaries and need to be prepared to face penalties matching their violation."
