A/HRC/33/63 Republic. Civil society representatives attended both dialogues thanks to the financial support of MINUSCA. II. General situation A. Political context and elections 11. The year 2016 was marked by a referendum on the new Constitution and presidential and legislative elections, signalling the end of the political transition that had begun on 18 August 2013 for an initial period of 18 months and which had been extended until the swearing-in of the new President, who was elected on 30 March 2016. The elections received significant backing from MINUSCA and the international community. 12. The period was also marked by an upsurge in violence, the like of which had not been seen since early 2014, during September and October 2015. The violence in the capital left dozens dead and hundreds injured. Violent incidents also occurred in other cities across the country. 13. In early October 2015, the transitional President organized a series of consultations with 400 members of local authorities and political actors in order to find a peaceful solution to the crisis. However, many coalitions of political parties refused to participate, while others denounced the non-inclusive nature of the consultations. Violent incidents continued to occur until late October. 14. In his address to the National Transitional Council, which met on 21 and 22 October 2015, the transitional Prime Minister, Mahamat Kamoun, designated the supporters of former Presidents François Bozizé and Michel Djotodia as the main instigators of the violence. In late November, the transitional Government finally carried out a ministerial reshuffle in response to criticism of the action of the Government during the September crisis. 15. On 9 November, the national electoral authority announced the following electoral calendar: a constitutional referendum scheduled for 13 December, a combined first round of presidential and legislative elections scheduled for 27 December (postponed until 30 December) and a second round of elections scheduled for 31 January 2016. 16. The visit of Pope Francis on 29 and 30 November 2015 had a profound impact on the people of the Central African Republic. In visiting Catholic, Protestant and Muslim religious institutions, he sent a strong message urging all communities to show respect, tolerance and a spirit of reconciliation in dealing with one another. His visit to the PK-5 Muslim enclave was cheered by thousands of residents who followed him peacefully to the stadium. The Pope’s unprecedented walk through PK-5 served to dispel fear and to encourage a certain freedom of movement between the Muslim enclave and the other districts of Bangui. 17. On 8 December, the transitional Constitutional Court ruled on the validity of all the candidatures for the presidential election. Of the 44 candidatures received, the Court found 14 to be invalid, including those of former President François Bozizé and the anti-balaka leader Patrice Édouard Ngaïssona, a decision which did not lead to violence in the streets. 18. On 9 December, 25 of the 30 candidates for the presidential election and 45 leaders of political parties pledged to observe a code of good conduct for their participation in the electoral process, which they have by and large respected. 19. The constitutional referendum led to the adoption of a new Constitution, with 93 per cent of the votes cast in favour, and took place peacefully, despite a few incidents. The first 4 GE.16-12727