The group includes a labor union, a trade confederation, a human rights organization and a lawyers group.
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The Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet brought together different sectors of society at a time when the democracy process appeared to be in danger of collapsing two years after the “Jasmine Revolution” of 2011.
But it has seen those ideals mired in bitter reality in many countries – most notably in Syria, where an uprising against the regime of Bashar al-Assad has morphed into a devastating civil war that has pushed waves of desperate people to attempt to migrate to Europe. When you look at other countries, like Egypt that has regressed back to a form of authoritarianism, like its neighbor Libya, where militias are ruling with guns – they have two governments and really nearly a failed state – Tunisia’s the only place that seems to be succeeding. Many Tunisians wanted his many years of strong rule and corruption to end.
“Tunisians in [poorer communities] have been made a lot of promises by the global community…and very little has changed for people on a tangible level”, she says.
The crisis ended, and a year ago Tunisia held successful legislative and presidential elections to complete its transition.
The Nobel committee said the prize would be “an inspiration to all those who seek to promote peace and democracy in the Middle East, North Africa and the rest of the world”.
No one does secrecy like the Nobel Committee, and the Tunisian group did not figure in the popular speculation or in the favorites named by betting organizations.
The Nobel committee said it hopes Tunisia will be an example for other countries.
President Barack Obama had originally earmarked $134 million for Tunisia in 2015 but the Senate cut that by $50 million, though it could still be restored in conference. Among the nominees were Pope Francis and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
“Democratic processes are not finished there yet and such awards are important because they reassure that the right things are being done”.
The Arab Spring has been so disappointing – in Egypt, in Libya, in Yemen – that Tunisia has been largely forgotten, making headlines only when terrorists kill European vacationers.
Tunisia’s National Dialogue Quartet leaders (from left to right), president of the Tunisian employers’ union Wided Bouchamaoui, secretary-general of the Tunisian General Labour Union Houcine Abassi, president of the Tunisian Human Rights League Abdessattar ben Moussa and the president of the National Bar Association Mohamed Fadhel Mahfoudh, in Tunis. Another in March killed 22 people at the country’s leading museum, the Bardo in Tunis – also primarily tourists.
The prize comes the day after unidentified assailants shot repeatedly at a policymaker and prominent sports magnate in Sousse, underscoring a sense of uncertainty in the Tunisian city, which depends heavily on tourism.
“The Arab Spring originated in Tunisia in 2010 and 2011, but it quickly spread to other countries in North African and West Asia”, said Kaci Kullmann Five, the chairwoman of the committee, who announced the prize in Oslo.
The Nobel Committee’s choice came as a surprise.
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“Secretary of Defense Ash Carter is now directing the Department of Defense to provide equipment packages and weapons to a select group of vetted leaders and their units so that over time they can make a concerted push into territory still controlled by ISIL”, Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said in a statement, using an acronym for Islamic State.
