Cameroon held a presidential election on Sunday, with 92-year-old incumbent Paul Biya poised to secure an eighth term after 43 years in office.
As the world's oldest serving head of state, Biya faced 11 challengers in the single-round vote, where the candidate with the most votes prevails.
More than eight million people registered to vote, including over 34,000 overseas, amid tight security and calls for vigilance from opposition figures.
Results are due from the Constitutional Council by October 26, with no exit polls available.
Biya, who abolished term limits in 2008, conducted a subdued campaign under the slogan "Greatness and Hope."
He appeared publicly only once since May, holding a single rally in Maroua that drew a few hundred attendees.
In contrast, former government spokesman Issa Tchiroma Bakary, 79, who resigned in June after two decades as a Biya ally, mobilized thousands at events and garnered endorsements from opposition parties and civic groups.
Barred from running, Maurice Kamto left Bakary as the leading contender.
Analysts anticipate Biya's victory, citing his control over state institutions and a fragmented opposition of nine candidates.
Francois Conradie, lead political economist at Oxford Economics, noted that while a surprise remains possible, "a divided opposition and the backing of a formidable electoral machine will, we predict, give the 92-year-old his eighth term."
Cameroonian political scientist Stephane Akoa described the campaign as livelier than past ones, warning of the ruling system's means to favor results.
Cameroon's diversified economy, a key producer of oil and cocoa, faces stagnation despite GDP growth since 2023.
About four in ten residents live below the poverty line, per World Bank data, with high unemployment, falling commodity prices, and a cost of living crisis fueling discontent.
Ordinary citizens lack access to clean water, healthcare, and quality education.
A driver in Yaounde expressed frustration over job scarcity, while a mechanic in Douala lamented worsening conditions.
The election unfolded against a separatist conflict in the English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions since 2016.
Al Jazeera's Ahmed Idris reported from Yaounde that voters, regardless of preference, seek commitment to address these challenges, including infrastructure needs.
Tensions flared post-voting, with security forces using tear gas to disperse Bakary supporters in Garoua.
Magdalene Tientcheu, 43, a Douala resident who has known only Biya's rule, voted for change, hoping for improvement and a new face.