Will the world's oldest president retain his position and attract a country of young voters?
This planet's most aged head of state - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has promised the nation's voters "better days are ahead" as he pursues his eighth straight term in office this weekend.
The elderly leader has stayed in power for over four decades - another 7-year mandate could extend his reign for half a century reaching almost a century old.
Campaign Controversies
He ignored numerous appeals to resign and drew backlash for making merely one public appearance, devoting much of the campaign period on a week-and-a-half personal visit to Europe.
A backlash regarding his use of an computer-generated campaign video, as his challengers actively wooed constituents in person, saw him rush to the northern region after coming back.
Youth Voters and Unemployment
This indicates for the vast majority of the population, Biya remains the sole leader they experienced - above sixty percent of the nation's thirty million residents are below the 25 years old.
Young advocate Marie Flore Mboussi is desperate for "fresh leadership" as she thinks "prolonged leadership typically causes a sort of laziness".
"With 43 years passed, the population are exhausted," she states.
Youth unemployment remains a specific talking point for the majority of the contenders competing in the political race.
Approximately forty percent of youthful residents aged from 15 and 35 are without work, with 23% of young graduates encountering difficulties in finding regular work.
Rival Contenders
Beyond youth unemployment, the election system has generated controversy, particularly regarding the exclusion of a political rival from the presidential race.
His exclusion, upheld by the Constitutional Council, was broadly condemned as a strategy to prevent any significant opposition to the current leader.
Twelve contenders were authorized to contest for the presidency, comprising Issa Tchiroma Bakary and another former ally - the two previous Biya associates from the north of the country.
Election Difficulties
Within the nation's Anglophone Northwest and South-West regions, where a long-running rebellion ongoing, an voting prohibition closure has been imposed, paralysing commercial operations, movement and learning.
Rebel groups who have enforced it have warned to harm people who does vote.
Beginning in 2017, those working toward a independent territory have been fighting state security.
The fighting has until now caused the deaths of at no fewer than 6,000 people and compelled approximately five hundred thousand residents from their residences.
Vote Outcome
Following the election, the highest court has 15 days to announce the findings.
The government official has already warned that none of the contenders is allowed to announce winning in advance.
"Individuals who will attempt to announce results of the leadership vote or any unofficial win announcement contrary to the laws of the nation would have broken rules and should be ready to receive consequences commensurate to their crime."