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This world's most aged head of state - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has pledged Cameroon's voters "better days are ahead" as he pursues his 8th straight term in office on Sunday.

The elderly leader has stayed in power since 1982 - another seven-year term could see him rule for 50 years reaching almost 100.

Election Issues

He ignored widespread calls to resign and has been criticised for making merely a single campaign event, using the majority of the election season on a ten-day unofficial journey to Europe.

Negative reaction concerning his dependence on an computer-generated political commercial, as his opponents sought constituents on the ground, saw him rush north after coming back.

Young Population and Joblessness

This indicates for the vast majority of the people, Biya remains the sole leader they experienced - over 60% of Cameroon's thirty million inhabitants are below the 25 years old.

Youthful political activist Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "different faces" as she maintains "extended rule typically causes a kind of laziness".

"With 43 years passed, the people are exhausted," she says.

Young people's joblessness has become a particular discussion topic for nearly all the contenders participating in the political race.

Approximately forty percent of youthful citizens between 15 to 35 years are unemployed, with 23% of young graduates facing challenges in finding formal employment.

Rival Contenders

Beyond young people's job issues, the electoral process has generated debate, particularly regarding the removal of an opposition leader from the election contest.

The disqualification, upheld by the Constitutional Council, was broadly condemned as a ploy to stop any strong challenge to the incumbent.

A dozen candidates were authorized to vie for the country's top job, including Issa Tchiroma Bakary and Bello Bouba Maigari - the two ex- Biya allies from the northern region of the country.

Election Difficulties

Within the nation's Anglophone Northwest and Southwest territories, where a long-running separatist conflict continues, an election boycott closure has been enforced, stopping commercial operations, travel and learning.

Insurgents who have imposed it have warned to attack people who participates.

Since 2017, those attempting to establish a independent territory have been clashing with state security.

The fighting has so far resulted in at least 6,000 individuals and forced nearly half a million residents from their houses.

Election Results

After Sunday's vote, the highest court has two weeks to declare the results.

The security chief has already warned that no aspirant is permitted to announce winning in advance.

"Those who will seek to reveal findings of the leadership vote or any personal declaration of success in violation of the regulations of the republic would have broken rules and should be ready to receive penalties matching their violation."