Will this world's most aged president keep his position and woo a country of youthful voters?
This planet's most aged head of state - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has promised Cameroon's electorate "the best is still to come" as he seeks his 8th straight presidential term this weekend.
The nonagenarian has already been in office since 1982 - another seven-year term could keep him in power for half a century making him almost a century old.
Election Issues
He resisted numerous appeals to step down and faced criticism for only showing up for a single campaign event, devoting much of the political race on a 10-day unofficial journey to the European continent.
Criticism concerning his reliance on an computer-generated election advertisement, as his challengers courted constituents directly, led to his hurried travel north on his return home.
Youth Population and Unemployment
Consequently for the great bulk of the population, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they experienced - more than sixty percent of the nation's 30 million people are younger than the 25 years old.
Youthful advocate Marie Flore Mboussi is desperate for "new blood" as she maintains "extended rule typically causes a kind of laziness".
"With 43 years passed, the citizens are weary," she declares.
Employment challenges for youth has become a particular issue of concern for the majority of the candidates running in the political race.
Approximately 40% of young Cameroonians aged from 15-35 are without work, with 23% of recent graduates facing challenges in obtaining formal employment.
Rival Contenders
In addition to youth unemployment, the voting procedure has generated debate, notably concerning the disqualification of Maurice Kamto from the election contest.
The removal, confirmed by the Constitutional Council, was broadly condemned as a tactic to stop any significant opposition to the current leader.
12 contenders were approved to compete for the country's top job, comprising a former minister and Bello Bouba Maigari - each former Biya associates from the north of the nation.
Election Difficulties
In Cameroon's English-speaking North-West and South-West territories, where a extended insurgency persists, an election boycott closure has been imposed, stopping business activities, transport and learning.
Insurgents who have imposed it have threatened to attack individuals who participates.
Since 2017, those attempting to establish a breakaway state have been clashing with official military.
The fighting has to date caused the deaths of at least six thousand people and compelled nearly half a million others from their residences.
Election Results
Following the election, the legal body has two weeks to announce the results.
The government official has earlier advised that no candidate is authorized to declare victory beforehand.
"Candidates who will try to announce results of the political race or any personal declaration of success against the rules of the republic would have broken rules and must prepare to encounter penalties appropriate for their violation."
