Will this planet's oldest leader keep his title and attract a country of youthful electorate?

The world's oldest head of state - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has assured the nation's voters "better days are ahead" as he aims for his eighth straight presidential term this weekend.

The nonagenarian has stayed in power for over four decades - an additional seven-year mandate could see him rule for 50 years until he will be almost 100.

Campaign Issues

He resisted broad demands to step down and faced criticism for attending just one public appearance, devoting much of the election season on a 10-day unofficial journey to the European continent.

A backlash concerning his use of an artificial intelligence created campaign video, as his opponents courted constituents in person, saw him rush north on his return home.

Youth Population and Joblessness

This indicates for the vast majority of the people, Biya is the only president they have known - more than 60% of the nation's 30 million inhabitants are younger than the 25 years old.

Young advocate Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "new blood" as she believes "prolonged leadership naturally results in a sort of laziness".

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

Youth unemployment remains a specific issue of concern for most of the contenders participating in the vote.

Approximately 40% of young citizens aged from 15 to 35 years are jobless, with twenty-three percent of recent graduates facing challenges in obtaining formal employment.

Opposition Contenders

Apart from young people's job issues, the electoral process has created dispute, especially with the exclusion of an opposition leader from the election contest.

His exclusion, confirmed by the legal authority, was broadly condemned as a tactic to prevent any strong challenge to the incumbent.

12 candidates were cleared to contest for the presidency, including an ex-government official and a previous supporter - each former Biya colleagues from the north of the nation.

Election Difficulties

In Cameroon's English-speaking Northwest and Southwest areas, where a protracted insurgency ongoing, an voting prohibition restriction has been imposed, halting business activities, travel and education.

Rebel groups who have imposed it have threatened to harm anyone who does vote.

Beginning in 2017, those seeking to create a breakaway state have been clashing with state security.

The conflict has so far killed at no fewer than 6,000 individuals and forced almost half a million others from their residences.

Vote Outcome

Following the election, the Constitutional Council has fifteen days to announce the findings.

The interior minister has already warned that no aspirant is authorized to announce winning beforehand.

"Candidates who will attempt to declare outcomes of the political race or any self-proclaimed victory contrary to the rules of the nation would have crossed the red line and need to be prepared to encounter penalties appropriate for their offense."