Can the planet's oldest president keep his title and attract a country of young electorate?
The planet's oldest head of state - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has assured the nation's electorate "the future holds promise" as he pursues his eighth straight term in office this weekend.
The nonagenarian has already been in office since 1982 - an additional seven-year term could keep him in power for half a century until he will be almost 100.
Election Issues
He defied numerous appeals to resign and has been criticised for only showing up for one public appearance, devoting much of the political race on a week-and-a-half private trip to Europe.
A backlash regarding his reliance on an AI-generated campaign video, as his challengers courted constituents in person, prompted his quick return to the northern region upon his arrival.
Youth Voters and Joblessness
It means that for the large portion of the citizenry, Biya is the only president they experienced - more than sixty percent of the nation's 30 million residents are younger than the 25 years old.
Young advocate Marie Flore Mboussi urgently wants "new blood" as she thinks "extended rule typically causes a kind of inertia".
"After 43 years, the people are tired," she declares.
Young people's joblessness has become a notable issue of concern for most of the contenders competing in the political race.
Almost forty percent of youthful citizens aged from 15 and 35 are without work, with 23% of college-educated youth facing challenges in finding formal employment.
Opposition Contenders
In addition to youth unemployment, the election system has created dispute, notably concerning the disqualification of a political rival from the election contest.
The disqualification, approved by the Constitutional Council, was broadly condemned as a tactic to stop any serious competition to the incumbent.
A dozen aspirants were approved to contest for the country's top job, including a former minister and a previous supporter - both previous Biya allies from the northern region of the nation.
Election Difficulties
Within the nation's English-speaking North-West and Southwest areas, where a protracted separatist conflict persists, an voting prohibition lockdown has been imposed, paralysing economic functions, transport and schooling.
Insurgents who have enforced it have warned to target anyone who casts a ballot.
Starting four years ago, those attempting to establish a breakaway state have been clashing with state security.
The violence has so far caused the deaths of at least 6,000 individuals and compelled approximately 500,000 residents from their residences.
Election Results
After Sunday's vote, the Constitutional Council has two weeks to announce the results.
The government official has earlier advised that no aspirant is authorized to claim success in advance.
"Individuals who will seek to announce results of the leadership vote or any personal declaration of success against the rules of the republic would have broken rules and should be ready to encounter retaliatory measures matching their offense."
