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This planet's oldest leader - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has promised Cameroon's electorate "better days are ahead" as he aims for his 8th straight presidential term on Sunday.

The elderly leader has already been in office for over four decades - another seven-year term could extend his reign for 50 years making him almost a century old.

Campaign Controversies

He ignored numerous appeals to step down and drew backlash for only showing up for a single campaign event, using the majority of the election season on a week-and-a-half private trip to Europe.

Negative reaction over his dependence on an artificial intelligence created campaign video, as his challengers sought supporters in person, led to his hurried travel to the northern region upon his arrival.

Youth Population and Unemployment

It means that for the vast majority of the population, Biya is the only president they have known - above sixty percent of Cameroon's thirty million people are younger than the 25 years old.

Youthful political activist Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "fresh leadership" as she maintains "prolonged leadership inevitably leads to a sort of complacency".

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

Youth unemployment has become a specific discussion topic for the majority of the contenders running in the political race.

Almost 40% of young Cameroonians between 15 and 35 are jobless, with 23% of recent graduates encountering difficulties in obtaining official jobs.

Opposition Contenders

In addition to young people's job issues, the voting procedure has generated debate, notably concerning the removal of an opposition leader from the leadership competition.

The removal, confirmed by the Constitutional Council, was broadly condemned as a tactic to prevent any serious competition to President Biya.

12 contenders were authorized to contest for the country's top job, including a former minister and a previous supporter - the two ex- Biya associates from the north of the nation.

Election Challenges

Within the nation's English-speaking North-West and Southwest regions, where a extended separatist conflict continues, an poll avoidance closure has been enforced, halting economic functions, travel and schooling.

The separatists who have established it have threatened to target people who casts a ballot.

Starting four years ago, those working toward a separate nation have been fighting government forces.

The conflict has to date killed at no fewer than 6,000 people and compelled approximately 500,000 others from their residences.

Election Results

Once polling concludes, the legal body has fifteen days to declare the outcome.

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

"Candidates who will seek to declare outcomes of the presidential election or any personal declaration of success against the regulations of the country would have broken rules and must prepare to face consequences matching their violation."