The Cameroes are rushing to the polls and 92 -year -old Paul Biya is expected to extend his 43 -year -old power.

The current chairman of African He is the oldest leader in the world and is expected to expand his 43 -year -old domination of power, despite the reinforced opposition pushing for change.

Among his opponents is former government spokesman Issa Tchiroma, 76, who has mobilized crowds of citizens who are demanding the end of Biya’s long term.

However, analysts point out that Biya, who has been in power since 1982, will win the election because of his strong control over the state mechanism and the fragmented nature of the opposition field, which includes nine candidates.

Decades of economic stagnation

“Nothing is given. Let’s wait to see, let’s wait for the winner’s name“, Biya told reporters after voting in the Bastos district near the Presidential Palace in the Yaude capital.

Biya critics are also hoping that it will be able to be displaced by power, after decades of economic stagnation and tensions in the 30 million residents, oil producer and cocoa.

“These elections are held at a time when the whole nation wishes to change“, Tchiroma After voting in his hometown, Garoua, in the northern part of the country.

He called on voters to remain alert and make sure that the results announced by the Constitutional Council will reflect the true vote of the citizens.

“For 43 years the Camerors have been suffering. There are no jobs“, Said Hassane Djbrila driver from the Briqueterie district of Yaunde, who intends to vote for Tchiroma.

Biya’s slogan: “Greatness and Hope”

The vote started at 07:00 GMT and is completed at 17:00 GMT. More than 8 million people have registered in the electoral rolls. The results are expected within 15 days.

Biya abolished the limits of the term of office in 2008 and has implemented tactics “divide and reign” for decades. The electoral system of a round gives the candidate to win the most votes, even if it does not secure a majority.

“A surprise is still possible, but a divided opposition and the support of a powerful electoral mechanism will give, as we foresee, the 92 -year -old’s eighth term“, Said Francois Conradie, chief political economist at Oxford Economics.

“Although we believe he is not fully aware of what is happening, it seems that the machine he built will be able to rule “dividing” for the last time“, Added Conradie in his note.

Under the slogan “Greatness and Hope”, Biya has only held a pre -election rally in the city of Maroua in the north, based mainly on state media and social media posts, while his campaign promises more economic growth.

“We want to see the change, we want to see it happen in practice. We don’t just want to hear words anymore“, Said Herves Mitterand, Engineer in the commercial capital of Douala.