Can this planet's oldest leader keep his position and attract a nation of youthful voters?
This planet's oldest head of state - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has pledged the nation's voters "the future holds promise" as he aims for his 8th straight presidential term on Sunday.
The elderly leader has stayed in power since 1982 - another 7-year term could keep him in power for half a century reaching almost a century old.
Campaign Issues
He defied widespread calls to step down and drew backlash for attending just one rally, devoting much of the political race on a 10-day unofficial journey to Europe.
A backlash regarding his reliance on an computer-generated political commercial, as his challengers sought supporters directly, prompted his quick return north after coming back.
Young Population and Unemployment
It means that for the great bulk of the population, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they remember - above sixty percent of Cameroon's 30 million residents are under the quarter century mark.
Young advocate Marie Flore Mboussi urgently wants "fresh leadership" as she believes "extended rule inevitably leads to a type of inertia".
"Following four decades, the people are exhausted," she says.
Employment challenges for youth has been a specific talking point for most of the candidates participating in the vote.
Approximately 40% of young citizens between 15 to 35 years are without work, with 23% of young graduates encountering difficulties in finding regular work.
Rival Contenders
Apart from youth unemployment, the voting procedure has generated debate, particularly regarding the disqualification of Maurice Kamto from the election contest.
His exclusion, confirmed by the Constitutional Council, was widely criticised as a ploy to prevent any strong challenge to the current leader.
A dozen aspirants were approved to contest for the presidency, including Issa Tchiroma Bakary and Bello Bouba Maigari - the two ex- Biya colleagues from the north of the country.
Election Difficulties
Within the nation's Anglophone Northwest and South-West territories, where a long-running separatist conflict continues, an election boycott lockdown has been established, halting business activities, travel and schooling.
Rebel groups who have enforced it have promised to target people who participates.
Beginning in 2017, those attempting to establish a breakaway state have been clashing with government forces.
The fighting has to date caused the deaths of at minimum 6,000 lives and compelled nearly five hundred thousand others from their houses.
Vote Outcome
Once polling concludes, the highest court has 15 days to declare the findings.
The security chief has earlier advised that no aspirant is allowed to declare victory beforehand.
"Individuals who will seek to reveal findings of the presidential election or any personal declaration of success contrary to the laws of the nation would have violated boundaries and must prepare to face penalties matching their offense."
