🔗 Share this article Will this world's most aged leader keep his title and attract a nation of youthful electorate? The world's most aged head of state - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has assured Cameroon's electorate "better days are ahead" as he pursues his 8th consecutive term in office on Sunday. The nonagenarian has remained in power since 1982 - an additional seven-year term could extend his reign for 50 years making him almost 100. Election Controversies He resisted numerous appeals to step down and drew backlash for making merely a single campaign event, spending most of the political race on a ten-day private trip to the European continent. A backlash regarding his reliance on an artificial intelligence created political commercial, as his rivals actively wooed constituents in person, led to his hurried travel north on his return home. Youth Voters and Unemployment It means that for the vast majority of the citizenry, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they experienced - more than 60% of the nation's 30 million inhabitants are below the 25 years old. Youthful political activist Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "new blood" as she thinks "longevity in power inevitably leads to a kind of laziness". "After 43 years, the people are weary," she says. Youth unemployment has become a notable talking point for most of the contenders competing in the political race. Nearly 40% of young citizens between 15 to 35 years are jobless, with 23% of college-educated youth encountering difficulties in securing formal employment. Rival Contenders Beyond young people's job issues, the voting procedure has created dispute, notably concerning the exclusion of a political rival from the presidential race. The disqualification, confirmed by the legal authority, was broadly condemned as a ploy to prevent any serious competition to President Biya. Twelve candidates were cleared to contest for the country's top job, including a former minister and Bello Bouba Maigari - the two ex- Biya allies from the north of the country. Voting Challenges Within the nation's English-speaking North-West and South-West regions, where a long-running rebellion ongoing, an election boycott restriction has been established, paralysing economic functions, movement and learning. Rebel groups who have enforced it have threatened to attack people who does vote. Starting four years ago, those seeking to create a independent territory have been fighting official military. The conflict has to date resulted in at minimum six thousand people and forced approximately half a million people from their residences. Election Results Once polling concludes, the legal body has two weeks to reveal the findings. The security chief has previously cautioned that none of the contenders is permitted to announce winning beforehand. "Individuals who will try to declare outcomes of the political race or any unofficial win announcement in violation of the laws of the country would have crossed the red line and must prepare to receive retaliatory measures matching their violation."