🔗 Share this article Can this world's most aged leader keep the title and attract a country of youthful voters? The planet's most aged leader - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has pledged Cameroon's electorate "better days are ahead" as he seeks his 8th consecutive term in office this weekend. The 92-year-old has remained in office for over four decades - another 7-year mandate could keep him in power for 50 years reaching almost 100. Election Controversies He defied numerous appeals to step down and drew backlash for only showing up for one rally, spending most of the election season on a 10-day unofficial journey to the European continent. A backlash regarding his dependence on an AI-generated campaign video, as his opponents sought constituents on the ground, led to his hurried travel north after coming back. Youth Population and Joblessness It means that for the vast majority of the population, Biya remains the sole leader they experienced - over sixty percent of the nation's thirty million residents are below the quarter century mark. Young advocate Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "different faces" as she maintains "extended rule typically causes a sort of laziness". "With 43 years passed, the citizens are weary," she declares. Young people's joblessness remains a notable talking point for nearly all the candidates running in the election. Almost forty percent of young residents between 15 and 35 are without work, with twenty-three percent of college-educated youth experiencing problems in obtaining formal employment. Opposition Contenders In addition to young people's job issues, the voting procedure has created debate, particularly regarding the removal of Maurice Kamto from the leadership competition. His exclusion, upheld by the legal authority, was broadly condemned as a tactic to block any serious competition to the incumbent. Twelve contenders were cleared to contest for the presidency, featuring Issa Tchiroma Bakary and Bello Bouba Maigari - both former Biya allies from the north of the country. Voting Challenges Within the nation's Anglophone North-West and South-West regions, where a extended insurgency ongoing, an election boycott closure has been established, paralysing business activities, travel and schooling. The separatists who have enforced it have threatened to attack anyone who participates. Beginning in 2017, those seeking to create a breakaway state have been battling state security. The violence has until now killed at least 6,000 lives and caused approximately five hundred thousand people from their homes. Election Results Following the election, the highest court has 15 days to reveal the outcome. The security chief has previously cautioned that none of the contenders is authorized to declare victory in advance. "Candidates who will try to announce results of the presidential election or any self-proclaimed victory contrary to the rules of the country would have crossed the red line and need to be prepared to receive retaliatory measures commensurate to their violation."