"The best is yet to come."

That is the promise Cameroon's President Paul Biya makes as he runs for an eighth term as head of state. The 92-year-old has had more than 40 years to shape his country's destiny: he has been in power since 1982.

If he is re-elected in the next elections on October 12, 2025 the world's oldest head of state could remain in office until shortly before his 100th birthday.

Many inhabitants of the central African country no longer believe in a better Cameroon under Biya.

Young people in particular — more than 36% of the population is under the age of 18 — lack prospects: unemployment, education, and health care are among their concerns.

One in four Cameroonians lives below the poverty line despite Cameroon's rich natural resources. It has oil, natural gas, aluminum, gold, precious woods, coffee, cocoa and cotton. But the country is still heavily dependent on China's economy, but development aid.

Corruption and human rights violations are part of everyday life.

Many Cameroonians shrug their shoulders at Biya's renewed candidacy.

"It's no surprise," student Olivier Njoya tells DW. "It's just a shame that there are people who don't think about the common good, but only about their own interests."

So how does a politician manage to keep his tight web of power intact for 43........

© Deutsche Welle