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The world's most aged head of state - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has promised Cameroon's voters "the future holds promise" as he pursues his eighth straight presidential term this weekend.

The nonagenarian has stayed in office for over four decades - an additional 7-year term could keep him in power for 50 years reaching almost a century old.

Election Controversies

He ignored broad demands to step down and faced criticism for making merely one rally, spending most of the election season on a 10-day private trip to the European continent.

Negative reaction concerning his use of an AI-generated political commercial, as his opponents courted supporters in person, prompted his quick return to the northern region upon his arrival.

Youth Population and Joblessness

It means that for the large portion of the population, Biya remains the sole leader they remember - more than 60% of the nation's 30 million residents are below the quarter century mark.

Young political activist Marie Flore Mboussi urgently wants "fresh leadership" as she believes "longevity in power inevitably leads to a type of inertia".

"With 43 years passed, the population are weary," she says.

Employment challenges for youth has become a specific issue of concern for nearly all the aspirants running in the vote.

Almost forty percent of young Cameroonians aged from 15 to 35 years are unemployed, with 23% of recent graduates facing challenges in securing regular work.

Rival Candidates

Apart from youth unemployment, the electoral process has also stirred dispute, especially with the exclusion of a political rival from the leadership competition.

The disqualification, approved by the Constitutional Council, was widely criticised as a strategy to stop any strong challenge to the incumbent.

A dozen candidates were cleared to compete for the presidency, comprising a former minister and Bello Bouba Maigari - the two previous Biya colleagues from the northern region of the nation.

Election Difficulties

In Cameroon's English-speaking Northwest and South-West regions, where a extended separatist conflict ongoing, an voting prohibition lockdown has been established, paralysing business activities, transport and learning.

The separatists who have imposed it have threatened to target anyone who participates.

Since 2017, those working toward a breakaway state have been battling state security.

The conflict has so far killed at minimum 6,000 individuals and compelled nearly 500,000 residents from their residences.

Election Results

Following the election, the Constitutional Council has fifteen days to reveal the outcome.

The security chief has earlier advised that none of the contenders is authorized to declare victory beforehand.

"Candidates who will seek to announce results of the political race or any personal declaration of success contrary to the rules of the country would have violated boundaries and need to be prepared to receive retaliatory measures appropriate for their crime."