Nobel Peace Prize: Who are some of the contenders?

There is no way to know who will win the2015 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, but that hasn't stopped experts and online oddsmakers from speculating.

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The prestigious prize is awarded by the five-person Norwegian Nobel Committee, whose members are appointed by the Norway's parliament. The process is extremely secretive the committee doesn't even disclose who it's considering. All that is known for certain is that 276 nominations have been submitted this year.

Nevertheless, based on Nobel history and global affairs, analysts and expertshave made theirpredictions about whowill take home this year's prize andaffirmtheir place in the annals of history.

Angela Merkel

With millions fleeing violence and poverty in Africa and the Middle East and hundreds of thousands crossingthe Mediterraneaninto Europe, therefugee crisis has become a major global issue.

Many observers believe the committee will award the prizeto someone who hasworked tomanage thecrisis. Among those floated as contenders are the UN refugee organization UNHCR, a two-time Peace Prize winner, and MussieZerai, anEritreanpriest who has beenhelping refugees who run into trouble crossingthe Mediterranean to Europe from North Africa.

But the German chancellor, who has welcomed hundreds of thousands of refugees into her country and vowed to take in more, has topped most lists.

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Kristian Berg Harpviken, a Nobelexpert and director of thePeace Research Institute Oslo,has placed Merkel at No. 1on his annual predictions list.She's also atop the list at betting siteLadbrokes.com, whichgives her 2-1 odds.

"In a time when many have dodged responsibility, Merkel hasshown true leadershipand risen above politics, taking ahumane approachin a difficult situation,"Harpviken wrote.

A group of German MPs nominated the chancellor for the prize, according to media reports.

Denis Mukwege

TheCongolese gynecologist and rights activist has been favoured to win a Nobel Peace Prize for several years. Mukwege, an expert in reconstructive surgeries for rape victims, runs a free hospital inBukavu, where he's been credited with saving the lives of40,000 women over 18 years,according to British newspaper The Guardian.

Gang rapes bysoldiersand militias are extremely common in the country.

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"When I see some of the injuries on the women and children, I realize this type of violence has little to do with sex and much more with power through a sort of terrorism," he told The Guardian in May.

The website Nobeliana.com, run by three Nobel historians, placed Mukwege sixth on its list of 2015 predictions. Ladbrokes gives him 5-1 odds.

Harpviken put him at No. 5 on his list,predicting a shared win withJeanne Nacatche BanyereandJeannette Kahindo Bindu, two Congolese women who provide support for sexual assault survivors through achurch network. Norwegian MPs have nominated all three, according to local media.

Novaya Gazeta

In a country dominated by state media with a highly controlled message,Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta isknown for its fearlessindependent journalism, whichcasts a critical eye on theKremlin.

Six of its journalists have been murdered since 2001,including prominent Kremlin critic and human rights activistAnnaPolitkovskaya. Five men were convicted in her assassination last year,but it was never revealed who ordered the killing. The Russian government has denied any involvement.

The paper has also been subject to cyber attacks and police raids.

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A Peace PrizeforNovayaGazeta would be thefirst for any media outlet. What's more, according to Nobeliana, itwould "underline the independence of the Nobel Committee," as the decision would "provoke Russian authorities and possibly irritate some Norwegian politicians and parts of Norwegian business as well."

Harpviken says editor-in-chiefDmitry Muratov is a contender for "impressively holding on to the principles of journalism, despite severe costs." Ladsbrokes gives the paper 6-1 odds.

Reuters reported in May the paper had been nominated, but it's not clear by whom.

Juan Manuel Santos, Timolen Jimnez

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and FARCguerrilla leader TimolenJimnezwould be a controversial choice, as both are leaders in a bloody civil war that hascreated one of the world's highest internally displaced populations.FARC is considered a terrorist organization by Canada, the U.S. and the European Union.

But the twoleaders have hammered out a peace deal that could end more than50 years of armedconflict in Colombia, and experts say the committee has a responsibility to promote peace as much as reward it.

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"While both Santos and Timochenko are controversial figures, and each have their share of responsibility for past violence, the Colombian peace process should be a likely candidate for the Peace Prize, follows in a line of other Nobel Prizes through history, and would definitely be in Nobel's spirit," wrote Harpviken, who placed the duo second after Merkel.

Nobeliana placed the pair fifth, but suggested they're more likely to win next year after the peace deal has been ratified.

It's not clear whether theyhave been nominated, but experts say it's likely.

Pope Francis

No pope has ever won a Nobel Peace Prize, but observers say Francis stands out for his forhis focus on poverty, inequality and diplomacy.

During his whirlwind tour of the United States and Cuba, Francis repeatedly called on people to embrace immigrants and refugees and tend to those less fortunate.

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Norwegian Liberal Party MPAbid Raja nominated Francis.Ladbrokes gives him 6-1 odds and Nobelianaplaces him eight on its list, noting he has "made several speeches supporting the unprivileged and called for social justice."