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This world's oldest leader - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has assured Cameroon's electorate "the future holds promise" as he pursues his 8th straight presidential term on Sunday.

The nonagenarian has already been in power since 1982 - an additional 7-year mandate could extend his reign for 50 years until he will be almost a century old.

Election Controversies

He defied widespread calls to resign and has been criticised for attending just a single campaign event, spending most of the campaign period on a ten-day unofficial journey to Europe.

Criticism regarding his reliance on an AI-generated campaign video, as his rivals actively wooed voters on the ground, led to his hurried travel to the northern region after coming back.

Young Population and Unemployment

Consequently for the great bulk of the citizenry, Biya is the only president they experienced - over sixty percent of the nation's thirty million people are below the age of 25.

Youthful campaigner Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "different faces" as she thinks "prolonged leadership typically causes a kind of laziness".

"With 43 years passed, the population are weary," she says.

Employment challenges for youth has been a particular discussion topic for most of the contenders participating in the political race.

Almost 40% of youthful Cameroonians between 15 to 35 years are jobless, with 23% of young graduates encountering difficulties in obtaining formal employment.

Opposition Candidates

Apart from youth unemployment, the voting procedure has also stirred controversy, notably concerning the exclusion of Maurice Kamto from the presidential race.

The removal, approved by the legal authority, was widely criticised as a strategy to prevent any serious competition to President Biya.

Twelve candidates were authorized to contest for the leadership position, including Issa Tchiroma Bakary and another former ally - each previous Biya associates from the northern region of the country.

Voting Difficulties

In Cameroon's Anglophone Northwest and Southwest areas, where a protracted separatist conflict persists, an poll avoidance lockdown has been imposed, stopping economic functions, transport and learning.

Insurgents who have established it have warned to target individuals who casts a ballot.

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

The conflict has to date resulted in at no fewer than 6k lives and compelled nearly half a million people from their homes.

Election Results

After Sunday's vote, the highest court has two weeks to declare the findings.

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

"Those who will seek to declare outcomes of the political race or any self-proclaimed victory against the regulations of the country would have crossed the red line and need to be prepared to receive retaliatory measures appropriate for their crime."