Can the planet's most aged leader keep his position and attract a nation of young voters?

This world's oldest leader - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has pledged Cameroon's voters "the future holds promise" as he seeks his 8th straight presidential term on Sunday.

The 92-year-old has remained in office for over four decades - another 7-year term could see him rule for half a century reaching almost 100.

Election Issues

He resisted widespread calls to leave office and has been criticised for only showing up for one public appearance, spending most of the campaign period on a ten-day unofficial journey to Europe.

A backlash over his reliance on an computer-generated campaign video, as his rivals courted constituents in person, saw him rush to the northern region after coming back.

Young Population and Joblessness

It means that for the great bulk of the people, Biya has been the exclusive ruler they remember - more than sixty percent of the nation's 30 million residents are below the 25 years old.

Youthful campaigner Marie Flore Mboussi is desperate for "different faces" as she thinks "prolonged leadership typically causes a type of laziness".

"With 43 years passed, the population are tired," she declares.

Young people's joblessness has become a particular issue of concern for nearly all the candidates participating in the election.

Nearly forty percent of young residents between 15 to 35 years are jobless, with 23% of recent graduates experiencing problems in obtaining formal employment.

Opposition Contenders

In addition to young people's job issues, the election system has also stirred controversy, especially with the exclusion of a political rival from the presidential race.

The removal, upheld by the legal authority, was widely criticised as a tactic to stop any serious competition to President Biya.

12 contenders were approved to contest for the presidency, comprising Issa Tchiroma Bakary and another former ally - each ex- Biya colleagues from the north of the country.

Voting Difficulties

Within the nation's English-speaking Northwest and South-West territories, where a long-running rebellion continues, an election boycott lockdown has been imposed, stopping commercial operations, travel and learning.

Insurgents who have established it have threatened to attack individuals who casts a ballot.

Beginning in 2017, those seeking to create a separate nation have been clashing with government forces.

The fighting has to date resulted in at least six thousand individuals and forced approximately five hundred thousand others from their houses.

Vote Outcome

After Sunday's vote, the highest court has 15 days to declare the results.

The interior minister has already warned that none of the contenders is authorized to announce winning beforehand.

"Individuals who will attempt to announce results of the leadership vote or any personal declaration of success against the rules of the country would have violated boundaries and should be ready to receive penalties appropriate for their crime."