🔗 Share this article Can this planet's oldest leader retain his title and woo a country of young voters? This world's most aged leader - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has promised Cameroon's electorate "better days are ahead" as he seeks his eighth consecutive presidential term this weekend. The 92-year-old has remained in office since 1982 - another 7-year term could see him rule for 50 years making him almost a century old. Campaign Controversies He resisted broad demands to resign and has been criticised for attending just a single campaign event, devoting much of the political race on a 10-day private trip to the European continent. A backlash regarding his dependence on an AI-generated political commercial, as his rivals actively wooed constituents on the ground, led to his hurried travel north upon his arrival. Young Population and Unemployment Consequently for the great bulk of the population, Biya is the only president they experienced - above sixty percent of Cameroon's thirty million people are below the 25 years old. Youthful campaigner Marie Flore Mboussi is desperate for "different faces" as she maintains "extended rule typically causes a sort of laziness". "After 43 years, the population are tired," she states. Youth unemployment has been a specific discussion topic for nearly all the contenders running in the vote. Approximately forty percent of youthful Cameroonians aged from 15-35 are without work, with twenty-three percent of young graduates facing challenges in obtaining official jobs. Opposition Contenders Beyond youth unemployment, the electoral process has also stirred debate, particularly regarding the disqualification of an opposition leader from the presidential race. His exclusion, confirmed by the legal authority, was generally denounced as a strategy to prevent any significant opposition to the incumbent. A dozen aspirants were approved to compete for the presidency, featuring a former minister and another former ally - the two former Biya colleagues from the northern region of the country. Voting Challenges Within the nation's English-speaking North-West and Southwest regions, where a extended rebellion ongoing, an poll avoidance closure has been enforced, stopping commercial operations, movement and education. Insurgents who have established it have threatened to harm anyone who casts a ballot. Beginning in 2017, those working toward a independent territory have been fighting government forces. The violence has until now caused the deaths of at minimum 6,000 people and caused approximately half a million residents from their houses. Election Results Once polling concludes, the highest court has fifteen days to declare the outcome. The security chief has earlier advised that no candidate is allowed to announce winning beforehand. "Individuals who will attempt to announce results of the political race or any self-proclaimed victory against the laws of the republic would have violated boundaries and must prepare to face penalties appropriate for their offense."