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The world's oldest leader - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has assured the nation's voters "the best is still to come" as he aims for his eighth straight presidential term on Sunday.

The nonagenarian has stayed in power for over four decades - an additional seven-year term could extend his reign for half a century making him almost 100.

Campaign Controversies

He ignored widespread calls to step down and drew backlash for making merely one public appearance, spending most of the election season on a week-and-a-half private trip to the European continent.

Negative reaction over his reliance on an AI-generated election advertisement, as his opponents courted voters directly, led to his hurried travel north after coming back.

Youth Population and Joblessness

Consequently for the great bulk of the population, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they have known - above sixty percent of Cameroon's 30 million people are younger than the quarter century mark.

Young campaigner Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "new blood" as she believes "extended rule naturally results in a kind of inertia".

"With 43 years passed, the citizens are tired," she declares.

Employment challenges for youth remains a particular issue of concern for the majority of the aspirants participating in the election.

Nearly 40% of youthful Cameroonians aged from 15-35 are without work, with twenty-three percent of young graduates encountering difficulties in obtaining regular work.

Opposition Candidates

In addition to young people's job issues, the election system has generated dispute, notably concerning the disqualification of an opposition leader from the leadership competition.

The removal, upheld by the Constitutional Council, was generally denounced as a ploy to prevent any significant opposition to the current leader.

12 candidates were approved to contest for the presidency, comprising Issa Tchiroma Bakary and another former ally - the two ex- Biya allies from the northern region of the country.

Election Difficulties

In Cameroon's Anglophone Northwest and Southwest areas, where a long-running insurgency ongoing, an election boycott closure has been enforced, stopping business activities, travel and education.

The separatists who have imposed it have threatened to target anyone who does vote.

Beginning in 2017, those seeking to create a separate nation have been fighting official military.

The conflict has until now resulted in at minimum 6k people and forced approximately five hundred thousand residents from their homes.

Election Results

Once polling concludes, the highest court has two weeks to announce the results.

The security chief has previously cautioned that no aspirant is allowed to declare victory beforehand.

"Candidates who will seek to announce results of the leadership vote or any unofficial win announcement against the rules of the country would have violated boundaries and must prepare to receive retaliatory measures commensurate to their offense."