Angela Merkel, UNCHR Chief and Head of UN Refugee Agency congratulate Nobel Peace Prize winner Juan Manuel Santos

The head of the UN refugee agency has said the Nobel Peace Prize recognises Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos’ “political courage”, after awarding him with the prize.

He said he noticed an “extraordinary commitment” by Mr Santos’ government, Farc Rebels and civil society to make a peace plan work.

UNCHR chief Filippo Grandi linked the relevance to his agency’s work – Colombia has the “largest internal displacement situation” in the world with more than seven million internally displaced people.

Rupert Colville of the UN human rights office said the award recognised the importance of the peace process, and hopes it would give it a “boost”.

German chancellor Angela Merkel has, according to her spokesperson Steffen Seibert, congratulated Mr Santos, calling him “a man with a vision for his country.”

Meanwhile, 20 activists are camping out in front of Colombia’s congress – to demand the country’s peace deal not to be scuttled after its shock defeat in a referendum – also welcomed the news.

The small group shouted “Peace Deal Now” and “Colombia Wants Peace.”