Congo election commission sets November 2016 date for widely anticipated presidential vote

KINSHASA, Congo – Congo's electoral commission has set a date for next year's presidential and legislative elections.

The commission announced Thursday that the vote will take place on Nov. 27, 2016.

While the vote is more than a year away, discussions over the terms of the elections already have led to deadly violence.

President Joseph Kabila had proposed a national census to take place before an election could be held, but opposition leaders accused him of using that only as a delay tactic so he could hold on to power longer.

Kabila has been president since 2001 and under current law is barred from seeking another term. The protests over his proposal have left at least 27 people dead, according to government statistics.