Can the planet's most aged president retain the title and woo a country of young electorate?

The planet's oldest leader - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has assured the nation's voters "the future holds promise" as he aims for his eighth straight term in office this weekend.

The 92-year-old has stayed in power since 1982 - an additional 7-year mandate could see him rule for half a century reaching almost a century old.

Election Controversies

He resisted widespread calls to leave office and drew backlash for only showing up for one public appearance, using the majority of the political race on a ten-day unofficial journey to the European continent.

A backlash concerning his reliance on an AI-generated political commercial, as his rivals courted voters on the ground, saw him rush to the northern region after coming back.

Youth Population and Joblessness

Consequently for the vast majority of the citizenry, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they have known - over 60% of Cameroon's thirty million residents are below the age of 25.

Youthful political activist Marie Flore Mboussi is desperate for "fresh leadership" as she thinks "extended rule inevitably leads to a type of complacency".

"Following four decades, the citizens are weary," she says.

Youth unemployment has been a specific discussion topic for most of the candidates participating in the vote.

Almost 40% of youthful residents between 15 to 35 years are without work, with twenty-three percent of young graduates encountering difficulties in finding regular work.

Opposition Candidates

Apart from young people's job issues, the election system has generated dispute, particularly regarding the removal of a political rival from the presidential race.

The removal, confirmed by the legal authority, was broadly condemned as a tactic to block any significant opposition to the current leader.

Twelve candidates were approved to vie for the country's top job, comprising an ex-government official and another former ally - both former Biya allies from the northern region of the nation.

Election Challenges

Within the nation's English-speaking Northwest and Southwest territories, where a long-running rebellion continues, an poll avoidance lockdown has been imposed, stopping commercial operations, travel and learning.

The separatists who have enforced it have promised to target anyone who does vote.

Beginning in 2017, those attempting to establish a separate nation have been fighting official military.

The conflict has so far resulted in at least 6,000 lives and compelled nearly 500,000 people from their residences.

Election Results

Once polling concludes, the Constitutional Council has fifteen days to announce the findings.

The government official has previously cautioned that none of the contenders is permitted to announce winning prior to official results.

"Those who will seek to declare outcomes of the presidential election or any self-proclaimed victory in violation of the laws of the republic would have crossed the red line and must prepare to encounter retaliatory measures matching their offense."