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The planet's oldest leader - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has pledged Cameroon's electorate "better days are ahead" as he aims for his eighth straight term in office this weekend.

The nonagenarian has stayed in office since 1982 - an additional seven-year term could see him rule for 50 years reaching almost a century old.

Campaign Issues

He ignored numerous appeals to leave office and drew backlash for attending just one public appearance, spending most of the campaign period on a week-and-a-half private trip to Europe.

A backlash concerning his use of an computer-generated political commercial, as his opponents sought supporters in person, prompted his quick return north on his return home.

Youth Population and Unemployment

Consequently for the great bulk of the citizenry, Biya is the only president they remember - above 60% of the nation's 30 million residents are under the quarter century mark.

Youthful advocate Marie Flore Mboussi is desperate for "fresh leadership" as she believes "extended rule inevitably leads to a sort of laziness".

"Following four decades, the population are exhausted," she states.

Young people's joblessness has become a specific discussion topic for the majority of the candidates competing in the vote.

Approximately forty percent of young residents aged from 15 to 35 years are unemployed, with 23% of college-educated youth encountering difficulties in obtaining formal employment.

Rival Contenders

In addition to young people's job issues, the voting procedure has created dispute, notably concerning the removal of an opposition leader from the election contest.

The disqualification, upheld by the legal authority, was generally denounced as a tactic to block any serious competition to the current leader.

A dozen aspirants were authorized to vie for the country's top job, featuring an ex-government official and Bello Bouba Maigari - both ex- Biya colleagues from the northern region of the nation.

Voting Challenges

In Cameroon's English-speaking North-West and South-West areas, where a long-running rebellion continues, an poll avoidance restriction has been imposed, halting economic functions, movement and education.

Rebel groups who have established it have warned to harm people who participates.

Since 2017, those working toward a independent territory have been clashing with government forces.

The fighting has until now killed at least 6k individuals and forced nearly 500,000 residents from their residences.

Vote Outcome

Following the election, the legal body has two weeks to reveal the findings.

The interior minister has earlier advised that none of the contenders is authorized to announce winning beforehand.

"Those who will try to announce results of the presidential election or any unofficial win announcement against the laws of the republic would have violated boundaries and should be ready to encounter consequences appropriate for their violation."