JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — After a newspaper reported in 1897 that the great American writer Mark Twain had died, a bemused -- but very much alive -- Twain famously quipped: "the report of my death was an exaggeration."

This century, several aging African leaders have also had to reject premature reports of their deaths, like Cameroon's Paul Biya last year when rumours of his demise spread on social media after he wasn't seen in public for a month.

It turned out the 92-year-old, who has the distinction of being the world's oldest, non-royal, leader, was simply in residence at his second home in Switzerland.

This Sunday he's seeking an eighth term in office –- having ruled Cameroon for 43 years -- that experts say he's all but guaranteed to win given that his strongest rival wa

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