Will this planet's oldest leader keep the title and attract a country of young voters?

The world's most aged head of state - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has pledged Cameroon's electorate "better days are ahead" as he seeks his eighth consecutive presidential term this weekend.

The elderly leader has already been in power for over four decades - an additional seven-year term could see him rule for 50 years reaching almost 100.

Election Issues

He ignored broad demands to resign and faced criticism for making merely one public appearance, using the majority of the election season on a ten-day unofficial journey to the European continent.

Criticism concerning his use of an artificial intelligence created campaign video, as his challengers actively wooed supporters directly, saw him rush to the northern region on his return home.

Youth Population and Joblessness

Consequently for the great bulk of the population, Biya is the only president they have known - over sixty percent of Cameroon's thirty million people are below the quarter century mark.

Young advocate Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "different faces" as she maintains "longevity in power naturally results in a sort of inertia".

"With 43 years passed, the citizens are exhausted," she says.

Employment challenges for youth has become a specific issue of concern for nearly all the candidates competing in the vote.

Almost forty percent of youthful Cameroonians between 15-35 are unemployed, with 23% of college-educated youth facing challenges in finding official jobs.

Opposition Candidates

Beyond young people's job issues, the electoral process has generated dispute, notably concerning the removal of Maurice Kamto from the election contest.

The removal, upheld by the legal authority, was widely criticised as a tactic to stop any serious competition to President Biya.

Twelve candidates were cleared to compete for the presidency, featuring Issa Tchiroma Bakary and Bello Bouba Maigari - both previous Biya allies from the north of the country.

Voting Challenges

In Cameroon's English-speaking Northwest and South-West territories, where a protracted rebellion continues, an election boycott closure has been established, halting economic functions, travel and learning.

Rebel groups who have imposed it have promised to target people who participates.

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

The violence has so far killed at least 6,000 lives and compelled nearly five hundred thousand residents from their houses.

Vote Outcome

After Sunday's vote, the Constitutional Council has fifteen days to reveal the outcome.

The security chief has previously cautioned that none of the contenders is allowed to claim success in advance.

"Individuals who will seek to declare outcomes of the presidential election or any personal declaration of success against the laws of the country would have violated boundaries and should be ready to encounter penalties commensurate to their crime."