🔗 Share this article

The world's most aged head of state - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has pledged Cameroon's electorate "the best is still to come" as he seeks his 8th straight term in office this weekend.

The nonagenarian has already been in power for over four decades - an additional 7-year term could see him rule for half a century reaching almost 100.

Campaign Issues

He ignored broad demands to step down and has been criticised for only showing up for a single campaign event, using the majority of the campaign period on a ten-day unofficial journey to Europe.

A backlash concerning his dependence on an AI-generated political commercial, as his opponents actively wooed supporters in person, prompted his quick return north after coming back.

Youth Voters and Unemployment

This indicates for the great bulk of the citizenry, Biya remains the sole leader they experienced - more than sixty percent of the nation's thirty million inhabitants are under the quarter century mark.

Youthful advocate Marie Flore Mboussi urgently wants "new blood" as she believes "prolonged leadership naturally results in a kind of inertia".

"Following four decades, the people are exhausted," she states.

Employment challenges for youth has been a particular discussion topic for the majority of the candidates competing in the political race.

Almost forty percent of youthful residents between 15-35 are jobless, with 23% of recent graduates encountering difficulties in finding formal employment.

Rival Contenders

Beyond young people's job issues, the voting procedure has created controversy, notably concerning the removal of Maurice Kamto from the presidential race.

The removal, approved by the legal authority, was generally denounced as a strategy to stop any strong challenge to the incumbent.

A dozen candidates were cleared to compete for the presidency, including a former minister and Bello Bouba Maigari - each ex- Biya associates from the north of the nation.

Voting Challenges

Within the nation's English-speaking North-West and Southwest regions, where a extended separatist conflict persists, an election boycott restriction has been enforced, stopping business activities, transport and education.

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

Starting four years ago, those attempting to establish a independent territory have been battling official military.

The conflict has to date caused the deaths of at least 6k individuals and caused approximately half a million residents from their houses.

Vote Outcome

Following the election, the legal body has 15 days to announce the outcome.

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

"Individuals who will attempt to declare outcomes of the political race or any self-proclaimed victory in violation of the laws of the republic would have violated boundaries and need to be prepared to encounter consequences appropriate for their crime."