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The world's most aged head of state - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has assured the nation's electorate "the best is still to come" as he pursues his eighth consecutive term in office this weekend.

The 92-year-old has stayed in power since 1982 - another 7-year mandate could extend his reign for half a century reaching almost a century old.

Election Controversies

He defied numerous appeals to resign and faced criticism for only showing up for a single campaign event, using the majority of the political race on a 10-day personal visit to the European continent.

A backlash regarding his dependence on an AI-generated political commercial, as his opponents courted supporters on the ground, led to his hurried travel to the northern region on his return home.

Youth Voters and Joblessness

It means that for the great bulk of the people, Biya remains the sole leader they experienced - more than sixty percent of Cameroon's 30 million residents are under the 25 years old.

Youthful advocate Marie Flore Mboussi urgently wants "fresh leadership" as she maintains "prolonged leadership inevitably leads to a type of inertia".

"After 43 years, the population are exhausted," she states.

Employment challenges for youth has become a specific issue of concern for the majority of the contenders competing in the vote.

Almost forty percent of youthful Cameroonians between 15 and 35 are without work, with twenty-three percent of recent graduates encountering difficulties in obtaining official jobs.

Opposition Candidates

Beyond young people's job issues, the electoral process has also stirred debate, especially with the exclusion of Maurice Kamto from the presidential race.

His exclusion, confirmed by the highest court, was widely criticised as a strategy to prevent any serious competition to President Biya.

12 aspirants were authorized to contest for the country's top job, comprising a former minister and Bello Bouba Maigari - each previous Biya associates from the northern region of the nation.

Election Difficulties

Within the nation's English-speaking North-West and South-West areas, where a extended separatist conflict ongoing, an voting prohibition restriction has been imposed, paralysing business activities, travel and education.

The separatists who have enforced it have threatened to attack anyone who participates.

Starting four years ago, those seeking to create a breakaway state have been battling state security.

The violence has until now caused the deaths of at minimum 6k lives and forced nearly five hundred thousand residents from their homes.

Vote Outcome

Once polling concludes, the Constitutional Council has two weeks to reveal the outcome.

The government official has earlier advised that no aspirant is allowed to claim success beforehand.

"Individuals who will try to declare outcomes of the leadership vote or any personal declaration of success against the regulations of the republic would have broken rules and should be ready to receive penalties commensurate to their crime."