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This planet's most aged leader - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has assured Cameroon's electorate "the best is still to come" as he pursues his eighth straight presidential term on Sunday.

The 92-year-old has stayed in power for over four decades - an additional seven-year mandate could keep him in power for 50 years making him almost a century old.

Election Controversies

He defied widespread calls to leave office and faced criticism for making merely one rally, devoting much of the campaign period on a week-and-a-half private trip to Europe.

Negative reaction over his reliance on an AI-generated political commercial, as his rivals actively wooed constituents in person, prompted his quick return north after coming back.

Youth Population and Unemployment

This indicates for the large portion of the people, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they experienced - above 60% of Cameroon's 30 million residents are below the 25 years old.

Youthful campaigner Marie Flore Mboussi urgently wants "fresh leadership" as she maintains "prolonged leadership naturally results in a kind of complacency".

"After 43 years, the citizens are weary," she states.

Youth unemployment has become a specific talking point for the majority of the contenders running in the vote.

Nearly 40% of young residents aged from 15 to 35 years are without work, with 23% of young graduates experiencing problems in finding official jobs.

Rival Contenders

In addition to young people's job issues, the election system has also stirred dispute, particularly regarding the removal of a political rival from the leadership competition.

The removal, upheld by the legal authority, was widely criticised as a tactic to block any significant opposition to the current leader.

A dozen candidates were authorized to compete for the leadership position, including an ex-government official and another former ally - the two previous Biya colleagues from the north of the nation.

Voting Difficulties

In Cameroon's English-speaking North-West and Southwest areas, where a extended separatist conflict continues, an voting prohibition closure has been established, paralysing economic functions, transport and learning.

The separatists who have imposed it have threatened to harm individuals who participates.

Starting four years ago, those attempting to establish a breakaway state have been clashing with state security.

The fighting has to date killed at least 6,000 lives and caused approximately five hundred thousand people from their residences.

Election Results

Following the election, the highest court has fifteen days to announce the outcome.

The interior minister has previously cautioned that none of the contenders is authorized to announce winning in advance.

"Individuals who will seek to announce results of the political race or any unofficial win announcement in violation of the laws of the republic would have broken rules and need to be prepared to encounter penalties appropriate for their violation."