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This planet's oldest head of state - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has promised the nation's electorate "better days are ahead" as he aims for his eighth straight presidential term this weekend.

The 92-year-old has stayed in power since 1982 - an additional seven-year term could see him rule for 50 years reaching almost 100.

Campaign Controversies

He resisted numerous appeals to resign and drew backlash for making merely one rally, devoting much of the political race on a ten-day unofficial journey to the European continent.

Negative reaction regarding his use of an AI-generated political commercial, as his challengers sought supporters on the ground, prompted his quick return to the northern region upon his arrival.

Young Population and Joblessness

This indicates for the great bulk of the population, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they have known - over sixty percent of the nation's thirty million residents are below the 25 years old.

Young political activist Marie Flore Mboussi is desperate for "fresh leadership" as she maintains "extended rule typically causes a type of complacency".

"After 43 years, the people are weary," she declares.

Youth unemployment has become a specific discussion topic for nearly all the candidates participating in the vote.

Nearly forty percent of young citizens aged from 15 to 35 years are jobless, with twenty-three percent of college-educated youth facing challenges in obtaining formal employment.

Opposition Contenders

Beyond young people's job issues, the election system has created debate, notably concerning the removal of a political rival from the election contest.

The disqualification, upheld by the Constitutional Council, was generally denounced as a strategy to block any serious competition to the current leader.

A dozen contenders were authorized to contest for the leadership position, including a former minister and another former ally - both former Biya colleagues from the north of the nation.

Election Difficulties

In Cameroon's Anglophone Northwest and South-West areas, where a long-running rebellion continues, an voting prohibition lockdown has been enforced, halting commercial operations, movement and learning.

Insurgents who have enforced it have threatened to harm people who does vote.

Beginning in 2017, those attempting to establish a breakaway state have been clashing with state security.

The fighting has to date killed at least 6,000 people and caused almost 500,000 residents from their residences.

Vote Outcome

Following the election, the Constitutional Council has 15 days to reveal the outcome.

The security chief has previously cautioned that none of the contenders is allowed to declare victory beforehand.

"Those who will attempt to announce results of the leadership vote or any self-proclaimed victory against the rules of the republic would have broken rules and should be ready to encounter penalties matching their violation."