Can this world's oldest president retain his position and woo a nation of youthful voters?

This world's most aged head of state - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has promised Cameroon's electorate "the future holds promise" as he pursues his 8th consecutive term in office this weekend.

The elderly leader has already been in power for over four decades - another 7-year term could extend his reign for 50 years reaching almost 100.

Campaign Controversies

He ignored numerous appeals to step down and has been criticised for attending just one public appearance, spending most of the political race on a ten-day unofficial journey to the European continent.

A backlash concerning his use of an AI-generated election advertisement, as his opponents actively wooed voters in person, saw him rush north on his return home.

Youth Voters and Joblessness

Consequently for the great bulk of the citizenry, Biya remains the sole leader they remember - more than 60% of Cameroon's thirty million residents are younger than the age of 25.

Youthful advocate Marie Flore Mboussi urgently wants "fresh leadership" as she believes "extended rule naturally results in a kind of complacency".

"After 43 years, the citizens are tired," she declares.

Youth unemployment has become a specific talking point for the majority of the aspirants competing in the political race.

Almost forty percent of youthful residents aged from 15 and 35 are without work, with 23% of recent graduates experiencing problems in obtaining regular work.

Opposition Candidates

Beyond youth unemployment, the electoral process has created debate, especially with the exclusion of an opposition leader from the presidential race.

The removal, confirmed by the Constitutional Council, was generally denounced as a tactic to block any significant opposition to the current leader.

12 contenders were authorized to vie for the country's top job, featuring an ex-government official and Bello Bouba Maigari - the two previous Biya colleagues from the northern region of the country.

Voting Challenges

In Cameroon's English-speaking Northwest and South-West areas, where a protracted separatist conflict ongoing, an election boycott restriction has been enforced, stopping economic functions, movement and education.

The separatists who have enforced it have promised to attack individuals who does vote.

Since 2017, those seeking to create a breakaway state have been fighting official military.

The conflict has until now caused the deaths of at minimum 6k individuals and caused approximately 500,000 residents from their residences.

Vote Outcome

After Sunday's vote, the Constitutional Council has fifteen days to declare the results.

The government official has earlier advised that none of the contenders is authorized to announce winning prior to official results.

"Individuals who will seek to announce results of the political race or any personal declaration of success against the laws of the nation would have violated boundaries and need to be prepared to encounter penalties appropriate for their offense."