🔗 Share this article

The world's most aged head of state - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has promised Cameroon's voters "the best is still to come" as he pursues his eighth straight presidential term on Sunday.

The elderly leader has stayed in power since 1982 - an additional seven-year term could keep him in power for half a century making him almost a century old.

Election Controversies

He resisted numerous appeals to resign and drew backlash for attending just a single campaign event, spending most of the political race on a ten-day private trip to Europe.

A backlash regarding his dependence on an computer-generated election advertisement, as his opponents sought supporters in person, prompted his quick return to the northern region on his return home.

Youth Population and Unemployment

This indicates for the large portion of the population, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they have known - over sixty percent of the nation's thirty million inhabitants are under the 25 years old.

Young advocate Marie Flore Mboussi is desperate for "fresh leadership" as she believes "longevity in power naturally results in a kind of inertia".

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

Youth unemployment remains a notable issue of concern for most of the aspirants participating in the election.

Approximately forty percent of young Cameroonians aged from 15-35 are jobless, with 23% of college-educated youth encountering difficulties in securing regular work.

Opposition Contenders

In addition to youth unemployment, the election system has generated dispute, notably concerning the removal of Maurice Kamto from the leadership competition.

His exclusion, approved by the legal authority, was broadly condemned as a tactic to prevent any serious competition to President Biya.

A dozen candidates were approved to contest for the presidency, including a former minister and Bello Bouba Maigari - both previous Biya allies from the north of the nation.

Voting Difficulties

Within the nation's English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions, where a long-running insurgency ongoing, an voting prohibition closure has been established, halting business activities, travel and learning.

Rebel groups who have established it have threatened to harm individuals who does vote.

Since 2017, those attempting to establish a separate nation have been clashing with official military.

The violence has so far resulted in at no fewer than six thousand individuals and compelled almost 500,000 residents from their houses.

Vote Outcome

Once polling concludes, the Constitutional Council has 15 days to reveal the results.

The interior minister has already warned that no candidate is allowed to declare victory in advance.

"Those who will try to declare outcomes of the political race or any personal declaration of success against the regulations of the republic would have crossed the red line and should be ready to receive penalties appropriate for their crime."