Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Declaration of Independence and the Bosnian War

Background

The disintegration of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s was marked by a series of declarations of independence by its constituent republics. Bosnia and Herzegovina, a republic characterized by its ethnically diverse population of Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims), Serbs, and Croats, was one of the republics seeking independence. The political landscape was tense, as ethnic nationalism surged across the region, fueled by the collapse of communist regimes in Eastern Europe.

Declaration of Independence

On March 1, 1992, Bosnia and Herzegovina held a referendum on independence from Yugoslavia. The referendum, boycotted by the majority of the Bosnian Serbs, resulted in a 99.7% vote in favor of independence, with a voter turnout of about 63.4%. The European Community (now the European Union) and the United States recognized Bosnia and Herzegovina’s independence shortly thereafter.

The Bosnian War

The declaration of independence led to the outbreak of the Bosnian War, which lasted from 1992 to 1995. The war was characterized by its ethnic violence, as Bosnian Serb forces, supported by the Yugoslav People’s Army, opposed the independence move. The conflict involved three main ethnic groups:

• Bosniaks: Primarily Muslim, they supported the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Bosnian Serbs: Predominantly Orthodox Christians, they opposed independence and sought to create a “Greater Serbia.”
• Bosnian Croats: Mostly Catholic, they initially allied with Bosniaks but later pursued their own territorial ambitions.

Key Events and Consequences

• Siege of Sarajevo: The capital city, Sarajevo, was under siege by Bosnian Serb forces for nearly four years, resulting in significant civilian casualties and destruction.
• Ethnic Cleansing and Genocide: The war saw widespread ethnic cleansing, particularly against Bosniak civilians. The most notorious atrocity was the Srebrenica massacre in July 1995, where over 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were killed by Bosnian Serb forces, an act later classified as genocide by international courts.
• International Intervention: The conflict drew international attention, leading to NATO airstrikes against Bosnian Serb positions in 1995 and the eventual involvement of the United Nations.

The Dayton Accords

The war concluded with the signing of the Dayton Accords in December 1995. The agreement, brokered by the United States in Dayton, Ohio, established Bosnia and Herzegovina as a single sovereign state composed of two entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (mainly Bosniak and Croat) and the Republika Srpska (mainly Serb).

Aftermath and Historical Significance

The Bosnian War resulted in the deaths of approximately 100,000 people and the displacement of over two million. It highlighted the complexities of ethnic nationalism and the challenges of post-communist transitions in Eastern Europe. The war’s legacy continues to influence the political and social landscape of the Balkans, with ongoing efforts towards reconciliation and integration into European structures.

The conflict underscored the importance of international intervention in preventing ethnic violence and set precedents for future humanitarian interventions. The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) was established to prosecute war crimes committed during the conflict, contributing to the development of international criminal law.