Will the world's oldest president keep his position and attract a country of young voters?
The planet's oldest leader - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has pledged the nation's electorate "the future holds promise" as he seeks his 8th straight presidential term on Sunday.
The elderly leader has stayed in power for over four decades - an additional 7-year mandate could see him rule for half a century making him almost 100.
Campaign Controversies
He ignored broad demands to leave office and has been criticised for attending just one public appearance, spending most of the campaign period on a week-and-a-half private trip to the European continent.
A backlash concerning his use of an computer-generated political commercial, as his challengers courted supporters on the ground, led to his hurried travel to the northern region after coming back.
Youth Voters and Unemployment
This indicates for the great bulk of the citizenry, Biya is the only president they experienced - over sixty percent of the nation's thirty million inhabitants are under the quarter century mark.
Youthful advocate Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "new blood" as she believes "longevity in power inevitably leads to a sort of complacency".
"Following four decades, the people are tired," she states.
Young people's joblessness has been a specific issue of concern for most of the aspirants competing in the vote.
Approximately 40% of young citizens between 15 and 35 are unemployed, with 23% of college-educated youth facing challenges in securing regular work.
Rival Candidates
Beyond young people's job issues, the electoral process has created debate, notably concerning the removal of an opposition leader from the leadership competition.
His exclusion, approved by the legal authority, was widely criticised as a strategy to stop any significant opposition to President Biya.
A dozen contenders were authorized to contest for the leadership position, featuring a former minister and a previous supporter - each ex- Biya associates from the northern region of the nation.
Election Challenges
Within the nation's Anglophone Northwest and Southwest territories, where a extended separatist conflict ongoing, an voting prohibition closure has been enforced, paralysing business activities, transport and education.
Rebel groups who have established it have promised to target individuals who casts a ballot.
Since 2017, those seeking to create a separate nation have been fighting government forces.
The violence has so far resulted in at minimum 6,000 individuals and compelled almost half a million others from their homes.
Election Results
Once polling concludes, the highest court has fifteen days to announce the outcome.
The security chief has earlier advised that no candidate is allowed to claim success in advance.
"Those who will try to announce results of the presidential election or any unofficial win announcement against the rules of the country would have broken rules and must prepare to receive consequences appropriate for their violation."
