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The world's most aged head of state - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has pledged Cameroon's voters "the future holds promise" as he seeks his eighth consecutive presidential term on Sunday.

The elderly leader has already been in office for over four decades - an additional 7-year term could extend his reign for half a century until he will be almost 100.

Campaign Controversies

He ignored numerous appeals to resign and has been criticised for only showing up for one public appearance, spending most of the campaign period on a ten-day personal visit to the European continent.

Criticism concerning his dependence on an artificial intelligence created political commercial, as his challengers sought constituents on the ground, saw him rush to the northern region upon his arrival.

Youth Population and Unemployment

This indicates for the vast majority of the people, Biya remains the sole leader they remember - over 60% of the nation's thirty million residents are below the age of 25.

Young advocate Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "different faces" as she maintains "longevity in power naturally results in a sort of complacency".

"Following four decades, the citizens are exhausted," she declares.

Youth unemployment has been a notable discussion topic for nearly all the aspirants participating in the election.

Nearly forty percent of youthful citizens aged from 15 and 35 are jobless, with twenty-three percent of recent graduates encountering difficulties in obtaining official jobs.

Opposition Contenders

Apart from young people's job issues, the electoral process has created dispute, especially with the removal of Maurice Kamto from the leadership competition.

His exclusion, confirmed by the Constitutional Council, was generally denounced as a ploy to stop any strong challenge to President Biya.

Twelve contenders were approved to contest for the presidency, comprising Issa Tchiroma Bakary and Bello Bouba Maigari - the two former Biya allies from the north of the nation.

Election Difficulties

In Cameroon's English-speaking North-West and Southwest regions, where a extended separatist conflict continues, an voting prohibition closure has been enforced, stopping commercial operations, movement and education.

The separatists who have established it have warned to target individuals who participates.

Since 2017, those attempting to establish a breakaway state have been clashing with government forces.

The violence has so far resulted in at least six thousand lives and forced almost five hundred thousand residents from their residences.

Vote Outcome

Following the election, the legal body has 15 days to declare the outcome.

The interior minister has already warned that no candidate is authorized to claim success in advance.

"Those who will try to announce results of the presidential election or any personal declaration of success against the rules of the republic would have violated boundaries and need to be prepared to receive consequences appropriate for their offense."