Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet wins 2015 Nobel Peace Prize

The 2015 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet for its role in the country’s transition to pluralistic democracy.

The nominees included Pope Francis, German chancellor Angela Merkel, Eritrean priest Mussie Zerai, human rights campaigner and lawyer, Clive Stafford-Smith and Denis Mukwege, a renowned gynaecologist from the Democratic Republic of Congo who has helped thousands of gang rape victims among other high profile figures.

The chairman of the Nobel committee said the quartet had made a “decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy,” after the 2011 Jasmine revolution, the BBC reported.

The Tunisian quartet is comprised of four groups, the Tunisian Human Rights League, the Tunisian General Labour Union, the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts, and the Tunisian Order of Lawyers.

“These organisations represent different sectors and values in Tunisian society: working life and welfare, principles of the rule of law and human rights,” said committee chairman Kaci Kullmann Five, quoted by the BBC.

The award recognises the contributions made by the Tunisian quartet in building and nurturing pluralistic democracy during the 2011 Jasmine Revolution and the subsequent years.

“After the Arab Spring in Tunisia in 2010-2011, the Quartet paved the way for a peaceful dialogue between the citizens,” the Nobel Prize said on Twitter.

“On this basis, the Quartet exercised its role as a mediator and driving force to advance peaceful democratic development in Tunisia with great moral authority,” added committee chairman Kaci Kullmann.

Source: BBC and Twitter

Social media has been awash with congratulatory messages from various groups and personalities.

BREAKING NEWS The 2015 Peace #NobelPrize is awarded to the National Dialogue Quartet in Tunisia pic.twitter.com/3O9jzwBK08

— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 9, 2015

Heartiest congratulations to the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet for being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2015. pic.twitter.com/TI4q6ymz3W

— Kailash Satyarthi (@k_satyarthi) October 9, 2015

Congratulations to the National Dialogue Quartet, awarded the #NobelPrize for Peace for its contribution to building democracy in #Tunisia.

— United Nations (@UN) October 9, 2015

https://twitter.com/SultanAlQassemi/status/652418225985204224

PM: Congratulations to Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet on their #Nobel Peace Prize, helping make Tunisia a beacon of hope for the region

— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) October 9, 2015