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This world's most aged leader - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has assured the nation's electorate "the future holds promise" as he seeks his 8th straight presidential term this weekend.

The nonagenarian has remained in office since 1982 - another seven-year mandate could extend his reign for 50 years reaching almost a century old.

Campaign Controversies

He resisted broad demands to resign and drew backlash for attending just one rally, devoting much of the political race on a ten-day unofficial journey to the European continent.

Negative reaction over his dependence on an artificial intelligence created political commercial, as his opponents actively wooed constituents on the ground, prompted his quick return north on his return home.

Young Population and Joblessness

Consequently for the great bulk of the people, Biya remains the sole leader they experienced - over 60% of the nation's thirty million inhabitants are below the 25 years old.

Youthful political activist Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "fresh leadership" as she believes "prolonged leadership inevitably leads to a sort of complacency".

"After 43 years, the population are exhausted," she declares.

Employment challenges for youth has become a particular talking point for the majority of the candidates participating in the election.

Almost 40% of young Cameroonians aged from 15 and 35 are unemployed, with 23% of recent graduates facing challenges in obtaining regular work.

Rival Contenders

Apart from young people's job issues, the election system has created dispute, especially with the disqualification of an opposition leader from the election contest.

The disqualification, confirmed by the legal authority, was generally denounced as a ploy to prevent any significant opposition to the current leader.

A dozen contenders were approved to vie for the presidency, comprising Issa Tchiroma Bakary and Bello Bouba Maigari - both previous Biya associates from the north of the nation.

Election Difficulties

In Cameroon's Anglophone Northwest and Southwest regions, where a extended separatist conflict persists, an election boycott closure has been enforced, paralysing economic functions, movement and schooling.

The separatists who have enforced it have threatened to harm people who participates.

Beginning in 2017, those attempting to establish a breakaway state have been battling government forces.

The conflict has to date resulted in at no fewer than 6k lives and forced approximately five hundred thousand people from their homes.

Vote Outcome

Once polling concludes, the legal body has two weeks to reveal the outcome.

The security chief has already warned that none of the contenders is permitted to announce winning prior to official results.

"Candidates who will seek to announce results of the leadership vote or any self-proclaimed victory in violation of the regulations of the republic would have broken rules and should be ready to face retaliatory measures appropriate for their crime."