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The world's most aged leader - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has assured the nation's voters "the best is still to come" as he aims for his 8th straight term in office on Sunday.

The elderly leader has stayed in power since 1982 - another 7-year mandate could keep him in power for 50 years until he will be almost 100.

Election Controversies

He ignored widespread calls to leave office and drew backlash for only showing up for one rally, devoting much of the political race on a 10-day unofficial journey to the European continent.

Negative reaction over his dependence on an artificial intelligence created election advertisement, as his opponents courted constituents in person, led to his hurried travel north after coming back.

Young Voters and Joblessness

Consequently for the great bulk of the population, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they experienced - more than sixty percent of Cameroon's 30 million inhabitants are under the quarter century mark.

Youthful political activist Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "fresh leadership" as she thinks "extended rule naturally results in a kind of inertia".

"After 43 years, the people are weary," she declares.

Youth unemployment has become a notable issue of concern for nearly all the aspirants competing in the vote.

Nearly 40% of youthful residents between 15-35 are without work, with twenty-three percent of college-educated youth encountering difficulties in securing regular work.

Rival Contenders

Beyond youth unemployment, the electoral process has also stirred controversy, particularly regarding the exclusion of a political rival from the leadership competition.

His exclusion, upheld by the Constitutional Council, was widely criticised as a strategy to prevent any serious competition to the incumbent.

A dozen aspirants were approved to contest for the leadership position, including a former minister and Bello Bouba Maigari - both former Biya allies from the northern region of the country.

Election Difficulties

In Cameroon's English-speaking Northwest and Southwest territories, where a long-running rebellion continues, an election boycott closure has been enforced, stopping commercial operations, movement and schooling.

Insurgents who have enforced it have promised to harm individuals who participates.

Beginning in 2017, those working toward a independent territory have been clashing with official military.

The violence has so far resulted in at minimum six thousand people and compelled almost 500,000 people from their homes.

Election Results

Once polling concludes, the highest court has two weeks to announce the outcome.

The government official has already warned that no candidate is authorized to declare victory in advance.

"Those who will try to declare outcomes of the political race or any self-proclaimed victory against the regulations of the republic would have violated boundaries and must prepare to receive consequences matching their offense."