🔗 Share this article

The world's oldest head of state - 92-year-old Paul Biya - has pledged the nation's voters "better days are ahead" as he pursues his 8th consecutive presidential term this weekend.

The 92-year-old has stayed in power since 1982 - an additional 7-year mandate could see him rule for 50 years until he will be almost a century old.

Election Issues

He resisted broad demands to step down and has been criticised for only showing up for a single campaign event, devoting much of the political race on a week-and-a-half unofficial journey to the European continent.

A backlash regarding his reliance on an AI-generated campaign video, as his rivals actively wooed supporters directly, prompted his quick return north on his return home.

Young Voters and Unemployment

It means that for the vast majority of the people, Biya remains the sole leader they experienced - above sixty percent of Cameroon's thirty million residents are below the age of 25.

Young advocate Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "new blood" as she thinks "prolonged leadership inevitably leads to a sort of complacency".

"Following four decades, the people are tired," she says.

Young people's joblessness has become a specific discussion topic for nearly all the candidates competing in the vote.

Approximately forty percent of youthful Cameroonians between 15 and 35 are jobless, with 23% of college-educated youth facing challenges in securing regular work.

Opposition Candidates

In addition to youth unemployment, the voting procedure has also stirred debate, particularly regarding the disqualification of a political rival from the presidential race.

The removal, approved by the highest court, was widely criticised as a ploy to block any strong challenge to the current leader.

Twelve aspirants were authorized to vie for the presidency, comprising Issa Tchiroma Bakary and a previous supporter - each former Biya allies from the north of the country.

Voting Difficulties

In Cameroon's English-speaking North-West and Southwest regions, where a long-running rebellion continues, an voting prohibition closure has been established, stopping economic functions, transport and education.

Rebel groups who have enforced it have promised to harm people who casts a ballot.

Since 2017, those seeking to create a independent territory have been clashing with state security.

The fighting has so far caused the deaths of at minimum six thousand lives and compelled approximately 500,000 residents from their houses.

Vote Outcome

Once polling concludes, the legal body has 15 days to reveal the findings.

The government official has earlier advised that no aspirant is permitted to claim success prior to official results.

"Candidates who will try to declare outcomes of the political race or any unofficial win announcement in violation of the regulations of the republic would have violated boundaries and need to be prepared to encounter penalties commensurate to their crime."