Bosnia in Conflict

Introduction
Yugoslavia did not exist until after the First World War when it was created from territories previously held by the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Empires.

Bosnia-Herzegovina, along with five other semi-autonomous republics of Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, and the provinces of Kosovo and Vojvodina, formed the federal state of Yugoslavia. It was one of the most ethnically diverse states in Europe.

During the Second World War Yugoslavia was divided and occupied by the Axis powers. By 1942 the Yugoslav people were also involved in a complex and brutal civil war. Over 6 percent of the population was killed during this period.

The collapse of Yugoslavia
After the war Yugoslavia became a communist state under the leadership of Josip Broz Tito. He tried to suppress nationalism by encouraging the population to think of themselves as Yugoslavs, rather than Serbs, Muslims or Croats. Tito’s death in 1980 created a power vacuum and by the mid 1980s, tensions were rising between the republics within Yugoslavia. This was made worse by serious economic problems and high unemployment.

Tensions between the republics were exploited by Franjo Tudjman and Slobodan Milosevic the leaders of Croatia and Serbia, Milosevic found that the idea of ‘greater Serbia’ had strong popular appeal, especially among Serb minorities living in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo.  

Resenting Serb dominance, Slovenia and Croatia declared independence in 1991 and they were attacked by the Yugoslav’s People Army (JNA) which was loyal to Serbia. The attack on Slovenia was unsuccessful, but by the end of August 1991, Serb forces had captured one third of Croatia. The war ended in early 1992 with a UN ceasefire. But just as hostilities died down in Croatia, a much bigger conflict was brewing in Bosnia.

The war in Bosnia
Bosnia was the most ethically diverse republic in Yugoslavia. It had no national or religious majority. 44% of the population were Muslims, 31% Serbs and 17% Croats. There was also a small Jewish community.

In March 1992, Bosnia did not want to remain in a shrunken Yugoslavia dominated by Serbia and declared independence under the Muslim leader Alija Izetbegovic. In April 1992, bitter fighting broke out between Bosnian Muslims and Bosnian Serbs, supported by Serbia.

‘It is estimated that over 97,000 people were killed during the war and around 2 million displaced from their homes’

Numerous atrocities were committed during the war, including rape. Bosnian Serbs implemented a campaign of ‘ethnic cleansing’ forcing Bosnian Muslims out of Serb areas. Bosnia’s cosmopolitan capital Sarajevo was attacked and besieged by the Bosnian Serb Army.

By the end of June 1992, Serbs controlled more than two thirds of Bosnia. In August, Western journalists discovered Serb-run concentration camps mostly holding Bosnian Muslims.

In central Bosnia, Bosnian Muslims were fighting Bosnian Croats who wanted to be part of Croatia. Fighting was particularly intense around Mostar, causing the destruction of the famous sixteenth century Old Bridge in November 1993.

In 1994, under pressure from America, a ceasefire was agreed between Bosnian Muslims and Croats. A Bosnian-Croat Federation was established to fight the Serbs.