Can this planet's most aged leader retain his position and woo a country of young voters?
This world's oldest head of state - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has assured Cameroon's voters "the future holds promise" as he pursues his eighth straight term in office this weekend.
The elderly leader has remained in power since 1982 - another 7-year mandate could see him rule for half a century until he will be almost a century old.
Campaign Controversies
He ignored broad demands to leave office and has been criticised for making merely one public appearance, using the majority of the campaign period on a ten-day private trip to Europe.
Criticism concerning his dependence on an computer-generated campaign video, as his challengers actively wooed constituents directly, led to his hurried travel to the northern region on his return home.
Youth Population and Joblessness
It means that for the vast majority of the people, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they have known - above 60% of the nation's thirty million people are below the age of 25.
Youthful campaigner Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "new blood" as she maintains "longevity in power inevitably leads to a type of complacency".
"After 43 years, the citizens are exhausted," she says.
Young people's joblessness has become a particular talking point for nearly all the contenders participating in the election.
Almost forty percent of young citizens between 15 and 35 are without work, with twenty-three percent of college-educated youth facing challenges in finding regular work.
Rival Candidates
Apart from young people's job issues, the electoral process has also stirred dispute, notably concerning the exclusion of an opposition leader from the presidential race.
The removal, approved by the Constitutional Council, was broadly condemned as a ploy to stop any strong challenge to the incumbent.
12 contenders were authorized to contest for the presidency, including an ex-government official and a previous supporter - both ex- Biya associates from the north of the country.
Election Difficulties
Within the nation's English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions, where a long-running rebellion ongoing, an voting prohibition closure has been enforced, stopping economic functions, transport and schooling.
The separatists who have imposed it have threatened to harm people who participates.
Beginning in 2017, those attempting to establish a breakaway state have been clashing with official military.
The conflict has to date caused the deaths of at minimum 6k individuals and compelled almost half a million others from their homes.
Vote Outcome
Once polling concludes, the Constitutional Council has 15 days to declare the findings.
The interior minister has previously cautioned that none of the contenders is authorized to declare victory in advance.
"Candidates who will attempt to reveal findings of the presidential election or any self-proclaimed victory against the laws of the republic would have broken rules and must prepare to encounter penalties commensurate to their offense."
