Can the world's oldest president keep his position and woo a country of youthful electorate?

This planet's oldest head of state - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has assured the nation's electorate "better days are ahead" as he aims for his eighth straight term in office on Sunday.

The nonagenarian has stayed in office for over four decades - an additional 7-year mandate could see him rule for 50 years making him almost a century old.

Election Issues

He resisted numerous appeals to step down and faced criticism for attending just one public appearance, spending most of the campaign period on a ten-day personal visit to the European continent.

Negative reaction concerning his use of an computer-generated campaign video, as his challengers actively wooed constituents in person, led to his hurried travel to the northern region after coming back.

Young Population and Unemployment

This indicates for the great bulk of the people, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they remember - above sixty percent of the nation's 30 million people are below the age of 25.

Youthful political activist Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "different faces" as she maintains "longevity in power inevitably leads to a sort of inertia".

"After 43 years, the population are tired," she says.

Youth unemployment has been a particular discussion topic for most of the aspirants competing in the election.

Almost forty percent of young citizens aged from 15-35 are without work, with 23% of young graduates facing challenges in finding official jobs.

Rival Contenders

Apart from young people's job issues, the voting procedure has also stirred controversy, notably concerning the disqualification of a political rival from the presidential race.

The disqualification, confirmed by the legal authority, was widely criticised as a strategy to stop any serious competition to President Biya.

Twelve contenders were authorized to vie for the presidency, including a former minister and Bello Bouba Maigari - the two previous Biya associates from the northern region of the country.

Election Difficulties

Within the nation's English-speaking North-West and Southwest areas, where a protracted rebellion ongoing, an poll avoidance closure has been enforced, halting business activities, movement and learning.

Insurgents who have established it have promised to harm people who casts a ballot.

Since 2017, those seeking to create a separate nation have been fighting official military.

The violence has so far resulted in at minimum 6,000 people and forced approximately half a million residents from their residences.

Election Results

After Sunday's vote, the Constitutional Council has fifteen days to declare the findings.

The security chief has already warned that no aspirant is authorized to announce winning prior to official results.

"Those who will seek to declare outcomes of the political race or any personal declaration of success contrary to the regulations of the republic would have violated boundaries and should be ready to encounter penalties commensurate to their crime."