The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Tunisia’s National Dialogue Quartet for their efforts in transitioning Tunisia to a democracy.
The quartet is comprised of the Tunisian General Labour Union; the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts; the Tunisian Human Rights League; and the Tunisian Order of Lawyers.
Many are not pleased with the award being given to the quartet. Some say that the current stability is far too fragile to be considered a victory.
Myriam Amri, a Tunisian writer for Independent news said “Here lies the Tunisian contradiction: we are the country that produced the largest number of foreign jihadists in Syria, while still being the most successful democratic transition in the Middle East.”
Others are saying that the award helps bring attention to the issues in Tunisia and the Middle East.
The International Crisis group said the award was “an apt recognition of [the quartet’s] achievement in allowing the spirit of inclusion and compromise to triumph over the polarisation and violence that has been all too prevalent in the region, and of the central role civil society can play at moments of crisis.”
Tunisia’s President, Beji Caid Essebsi, said that the prize is a gift and should be used to help guide the “path of consensus”.