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The planet's oldest leader - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has pledged the nation's electorate "better days are ahead" as he seeks his 8th straight term in office on Sunday.

The 92-year-old has stayed in office since 1982 - another seven-year mandate could see him rule for half a century until he will be almost 100.

Campaign Issues

He defied numerous appeals to resign and drew backlash for making merely one rally, devoting much of the election season on a 10-day personal visit to Europe.

A backlash concerning his reliance on an AI-generated campaign video, as his opponents courted constituents on the ground, prompted his quick return to the northern region upon his arrival.

Young Population and Unemployment

This indicates for the large portion of the people, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they remember - over sixty percent of Cameroon's thirty million residents are under the age of 25.

Youthful campaigner Marie Flore Mboussi is desperate for "different faces" as she believes "longevity in power typically causes a sort of laziness".

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

Young people's joblessness has become a specific issue of concern for the majority of the candidates running in the vote.

Almost 40% of young Cameroonians aged from 15 and 35 are unemployed, with twenty-three percent of young graduates facing challenges in obtaining regular work.

Opposition Contenders

In addition to youth unemployment, the voting procedure has also stirred controversy, especially with the disqualification of a political rival from the presidential race.

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

Twelve contenders were cleared to contest for the leadership position, including an ex-government official and a previous supporter - the two previous Biya allies from the north of the country.

Voting Difficulties

In Cameroon's Anglophone North-West and South-West regions, where a extended separatist conflict persists, an election boycott closure has been enforced, halting economic functions, movement and learning.

Insurgents who have imposed it have warned to attack people who does vote.

Starting four years ago, those attempting to establish a breakaway state have been battling official military.

The violence has until now caused the deaths of at minimum six thousand individuals and forced nearly five hundred thousand others from their residences.

Election Results

After Sunday's vote, the Constitutional Council has two weeks to announce the findings.

The government official has previously cautioned that no candidate is authorized to claim success prior to official results.

"Those who will try to announce results of the political race or any unofficial win announcement contrary to the rules of the republic would have violated boundaries and should be ready to encounter consequences commensurate to their crime."