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This planet's most aged head of state - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has pledged Cameroon's voters "better days are ahead" as he seeks his eighth consecutive presidential term on Sunday.

The 92-year-old has remained in office since 1982 - another seven-year term could see him rule for half a century making him almost 100.

Election Issues

He resisted widespread calls to resign and drew backlash for only showing up for a single campaign event, spending most of the election season on a week-and-a-half personal visit to the European continent.

A backlash concerning his dependence on an computer-generated campaign video, as his opponents actively wooed supporters in person, led to his hurried travel to the northern region upon his arrival.

Youth Population and Unemployment

Consequently for the vast majority of the citizenry, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they have known - more than sixty percent of the nation's 30 million inhabitants are under the age of 25.

Young campaigner Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "different faces" as she thinks "longevity in power inevitably leads to a kind of laziness".

"With 43 years passed, the population are tired," she declares.

Young people's joblessness has become a particular talking point for the majority of the candidates running in the political race.

Almost 40% of youthful residents between 15-35 are without work, with 23% of recent graduates experiencing problems in finding regular work.

Rival Candidates

Beyond young people's job issues, the voting procedure has generated debate, especially with the removal of Maurice Kamto from the election contest.

The removal, approved by the legal authority, was generally denounced as a ploy to prevent any serious competition to President Biya.

Twelve contenders were approved to compete for the presidency, comprising a former minister and another former ally - the two ex- Biya colleagues from the northern region of the nation.

Voting Difficulties

Within the nation's English-speaking Northwest and Southwest areas, where a extended rebellion persists, an election boycott restriction has been enforced, paralysing commercial operations, travel and education.

The separatists who have enforced it have promised to harm anyone who casts a ballot.

Since 2017, those attempting to establish a breakaway state have been fighting state security.

The conflict has so far resulted in at no fewer than 6k individuals and forced approximately five hundred thousand others from their homes.

Election Results

Once polling concludes, the highest court has fifteen days to declare the findings.

The interior minister has earlier advised that no candidate is authorized to claim success in advance.

"Individuals who will seek to declare outcomes of the political race or any self-proclaimed victory against the rules of the nation would have crossed the red line and must prepare to receive consequences appropriate for their offense."