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The planet's most aged head of state - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has assured the nation's electorate "better days are ahead" as he aims for his eighth straight presidential term this weekend.

The elderly leader has already been in office for over four decades - an additional seven-year mandate could keep him in power for half a century reaching almost 100.

Campaign Controversies

He defied broad demands to step down and drew backlash for only showing up for a single campaign event, spending most of the campaign period on a ten-day private trip to the European continent.

Criticism over his dependence on an computer-generated election advertisement, as his challengers sought voters in person, saw him rush to the northern region on his return home.

Young Population and Unemployment

Consequently for the vast majority of the people, Biya remains the sole leader they have known - more than 60% of the nation's thirty million inhabitants are below the quarter century mark.

Young advocate Marie Flore Mboussi is desperate for "different faces" as she thinks "extended rule typically causes a sort of laziness".

"With 43 years passed, the citizens are tired," she declares.

Youth unemployment remains a notable discussion topic for most of the aspirants participating in the vote.

Almost 40% of young citizens aged from 15 to 35 years are without work, with twenty-three percent of college-educated youth experiencing problems in securing formal employment.

Opposition Contenders

Beyond young people's job issues, the voting procedure has also stirred dispute, especially with the exclusion of an opposition leader from the leadership competition.

The disqualification, confirmed by the Constitutional Council, was widely criticised as a strategy to block any significant opposition to the current leader.

Twelve contenders were cleared to compete for the leadership position, including Issa Tchiroma Bakary and another former ally - each previous Biya associates from the north of the nation.

Election Difficulties

In Cameroon's Anglophone North-West and South-West regions, where a long-running rebellion continues, an election boycott closure has been enforced, stopping economic functions, movement and schooling.

Rebel groups who have established it have warned to harm anyone who participates.

Beginning in 2017, those working toward a breakaway state have been clashing with state security.

The violence has until now caused the deaths of at no fewer than six thousand lives and forced almost half a million others from their residences.

Election Results

Following the election, the Constitutional Council has fifteen days to reveal the outcome.

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

"Those who will seek to announce results of the presidential election or any personal declaration of success in violation of the laws of the republic would have violated boundaries and must prepare to face retaliatory measures commensurate to their violation."