The Democratic Republic of Congo will hold its much delayed presidential and legislative elections in December 2018, the election commission announced Sunday.

"Direct voting" will take place on December 23, 2018, covering presidential, legislative, regional and local elections, said Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) official Jean-Pierre Kalamba.

Elections had been due to take place this year under a deal whereby President Joseph Kabila would leave office but repeated wrangling has hobbled the process.