Will this planet's most aged president keep the title and woo a country of youthful electorate?

President Biya

This world's oldest leader - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has assured the nation's voters "the best is still to come" as he pursues his 8th straight presidential term on Sunday.

The 92-year-old has stayed in office for over four decades - another seven-year term could see him rule for 50 years until he will be almost 100.

Election Issues

He resisted broad demands to resign and has been criticised for making merely one rally, spending most of the campaign period on a 10-day personal visit to Europe.

Criticism regarding his use of an computer-generated political commercial, as his challengers sought constituents on the ground, saw him rush north upon his arrival.

Young Voters and Joblessness

This indicates for the great bulk of the citizenry, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they experienced - more than sixty percent of Cameroon's 30 million inhabitants are below the age of 25.

Young advocate Marie Flore Mboussi urgently wants "new blood" as she thinks "extended rule naturally results in a type of complacency".

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

Youth unemployment has been a notable discussion topic for the majority of the aspirants running in the election.

Almost forty percent of young Cameroonians aged from 15 and 35 are unemployed, with 23% of young graduates experiencing problems in securing official jobs.

Opposition Contenders

Beyond youth unemployment, the voting procedure has created controversy, notably concerning the removal of Maurice Kamto from the presidential race.

The removal, upheld by the highest court, was widely criticised as a strategy to block any serious competition to President Biya.

Twelve candidates were cleared to vie for the leadership position, featuring a former minister and another former ally - each previous Biya allies from the north of the country.

Election Difficulties

In Cameroon's English-speaking North-West and Southwest regions, where a extended rebellion continues, an election boycott lockdown has been imposed, stopping economic functions, movement and learning.

Rebel groups who have enforced it have threatened to harm people who does vote.

Starting four years ago, those seeking to create a breakaway state have been fighting official military.

The violence has to date caused the deaths of at minimum 6k individuals and forced nearly half a million people from their homes.

Election Results

Once polling concludes, the highest court has 15 days to announce the outcome.

The security chief has previously cautioned that no candidate is authorized to claim success prior to official results.

"Candidates who will try to reveal findings of the leadership vote or any self-proclaimed victory contrary to the regulations of the republic would have broken rules and need to be prepared to encounter consequences matching their offense."

Margaret Fletcher
Margaret Fletcher

Tech enthusiast and journalist with a passion for breaking news and in-depth analysis.