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This planet's oldest head of state - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has promised the nation's electorate "the future holds promise" as he pursues his 8th straight term in office on Sunday.

The elderly leader has stayed in office since 1982 - another seven-year term could keep him in power for 50 years making him almost a century old.

Election Controversies

He resisted broad demands to leave office and drew backlash for attending just one public appearance, using the majority of the political race on a ten-day personal visit to the European continent.

Negative reaction regarding his dependence on an artificial intelligence created campaign video, as his rivals actively wooed constituents in person, saw him rush to the northern region after coming back.

Young Voters and Unemployment

Consequently for the great bulk of the population, Biya is the only president they remember - more than sixty percent of the nation's 30 million inhabitants are younger than the 25 years old.

Young advocate Marie Flore Mboussi urgently wants "different faces" as she thinks "prolonged leadership inevitably leads to a type of inertia".

"Following four decades, the people are exhausted," she says.

Young people's joblessness remains a notable talking point for most of the candidates running in the election.

Approximately 40% of youthful residents between 15 and 35 are jobless, with twenty-three percent of recent graduates encountering difficulties in obtaining formal employment.

Rival Candidates

Apart from youth unemployment, the electoral process has generated dispute, particularly regarding the removal of an opposition leader from the leadership competition.

The removal, approved by the highest court, was broadly condemned as a tactic to block any strong challenge to President Biya.

Twelve aspirants were authorized to contest for the presidency, featuring a former minister and a previous supporter - both ex- Biya associates from the north of the country.

Voting Challenges

In Cameroon's Anglophone North-West and South-West areas, where a long-running rebellion ongoing, an poll avoidance restriction has been imposed, paralysing economic functions, movement and schooling.

Insurgents who have enforced it have promised to harm anyone who does vote.

Starting four years ago, those attempting to establish a separate nation have been battling state security.

The conflict has to date resulted in at minimum 6,000 people and forced nearly half a million residents from their residences.

Election Results

Once polling concludes, the highest court has two weeks to reveal the results.

The government official has previously cautioned that none of the contenders is authorized to announce winning prior to official results.

"Individuals who will attempt to reveal findings of the political race or any unofficial win announcement against the rules of the nation would have violated boundaries and must prepare to receive penalties appropriate for their offense."