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This world's most aged head of state - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has promised Cameroon's electorate "the future holds promise" as he pursues his eighth consecutive term in office on Sunday.

The 92-year-old 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.

Election Controversies

He resisted broad demands to step down and drew backlash for attending just one rally, using the majority of the election season on a 10-day private trip to Europe.

Negative reaction regarding his reliance on an AI-generated campaign video, as his challengers courted supporters directly, saw him rush to the northern region upon his arrival.

Youth Voters and Joblessness

This indicates for the great bulk of the citizenry, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they have known - over 60% of Cameroon's 30 million residents are under the 25 years old.

Young political activist Marie Flore Mboussi is desperate for "new blood" as she believes "extended rule inevitably leads to a type of complacency".

"With 43 years passed, the population are exhausted," she states.

Employment challenges for youth remains a notable discussion topic for the majority of the aspirants running in the political race.

Almost forty percent of young citizens aged from 15 to 35 years are jobless, with twenty-three percent of college-educated youth facing challenges in obtaining regular work.

Rival Contenders

In addition to young people's job issues, the election system has also stirred controversy, particularly regarding the exclusion of an opposition leader from the leadership competition.

The disqualification, upheld by the highest court, was generally denounced as a strategy to prevent any strong challenge to the incumbent.

Twelve aspirants were authorized to contest for the country's top job, featuring an ex-government official and Bello Bouba Maigari - the two former Biya associates from the north of the country.

Voting Difficulties

In Cameroon's English-speaking North-West and Southwest regions, where a extended separatist conflict continues, an poll avoidance restriction has been established, paralysing business activities, travel and schooling.

The separatists who have imposed it have promised to harm anyone who participates.

Beginning in 2017, those working toward a separate nation have been battling official military.

The conflict has so far caused the deaths of at minimum six thousand individuals and forced nearly half a million people from their homes.

Vote Outcome

After Sunday's vote, the highest court has two weeks to announce the findings.

The interior minister has previously cautioned that no aspirant is allowed to announce winning prior to official results.

"Individuals who will attempt to reveal findings of the presidential election or any personal declaration of success against the laws of the nation would have broken rules and must prepare to encounter consequences appropriate for their crime."