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This planet's most aged head of state - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has promised the nation's electorate "better days are ahead" as he seeks his 8th consecutive term in office on Sunday.

The 92-year-old has already been in office for over four decades - another seven-year mandate could extend his reign for half a century making him almost 100.

Campaign Controversies

He defied numerous appeals to resign and drew backlash for only showing up for one public appearance, devoting much of the election season on a 10-day unofficial journey to Europe.

Negative reaction regarding his dependence on an AI-generated election advertisement, as his rivals courted voters directly, led to his hurried travel to the northern region on his return home.

Youth Population and Joblessness

This indicates for the great bulk of the population, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they remember - above 60% of the nation's thirty million inhabitants are under the quarter century mark.

Young advocate Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "new blood" as she believes "extended rule typically causes a sort of laziness".

"Following four decades, the people are weary," she states.

Employment challenges for youth remains a particular talking point for the majority of the aspirants running in the vote.

Approximately forty percent of young Cameroonians aged from 15-35 are unemployed, with 23% of recent graduates facing challenges in obtaining formal employment.

Rival Contenders

Apart from youth unemployment, the election system has also stirred controversy, especially with the disqualification of an opposition leader from the leadership competition.

The removal, confirmed by the Constitutional Council, was widely criticised as a strategy to block any serious competition to the incumbent.

12 candidates were approved to compete for the presidency, including Issa Tchiroma Bakary and Bello Bouba Maigari - each previous Biya associates from the northern region of the country.

Voting Difficulties

Within the nation's English-speaking Northwest and Southwest territories, where a long-running rebellion continues, an poll avoidance closure has been established, paralysing commercial operations, travel and education.

The separatists who have imposed it have warned to target people who participates.

Beginning in 2017, those attempting to establish a separate nation have been fighting government forces.

The violence has so far caused the deaths of at no fewer than six thousand individuals and compelled nearly 500,000 residents from their houses.

Election Results

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

The interior minister has previously cautioned that no candidate is permitted to claim success in advance.

"Individuals who will seek to reveal findings of the presidential election or any self-proclaimed victory in violation of the rules of the republic would have crossed the red line and should be ready to encounter penalties appropriate for their violation."