SUMMARY

In 1993, the Bosnian President agreed to a plan of dividing Bosnia into three ethnically based territories, following the Bosnian Croats and Serbs declaration of autonomous regions within Bosnia. This was rejected by the representative of the northern region of Bihacka Krajina. Tensions escalated into armed conflict shortly afterwards. However, with the support of the Croatian army, the Bosnian army defeated the armed groups in Bihacka Krajina in 1995, thus terminating the conflict.

IN DEPTH

Background to the conflict

In 1992, the republic of Bosnia seceded from Yugoslavia and became an independent state. Violent conflict ensued between the Muslim-dominated Bosnian government and Croat and Serb communities in Bosnia. Early on, Serb and Croat autonomous regions within Bosnia were declared, and the armed violence spurred the ethnification of the Bosnian society. In 1993, during peace talks, the Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic agreed to a plan of dividing Bosnia into three ethnically based territories. Fikret Abdic, a member of the Bosnian state presidency, disagreed with this dismemberment of Bosnia. He maintained that multiethnic relations were functioning well in his region, the Bihacka Krajina in northwestern Bosnia. In September 1993, Abdic declared the ‘Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia’, the area around Bihac, to have the same status that the three ethnically based states that were taking form. The new entity would constitutionally guarantee the equality of all national groups. The inhabitants in the ‘Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia’ set up its own 400-strong ‘Constituent Assembly’ and elected Abdic President. The Bosnian government immediately declared Fikret Abdic’s claim of Bihac autonomy illegal. An incompatibility about the constitutional status of the Bihac territory had thus developed.

Tensions escalates into armed conflict

At the end of September 1993, Bosnian army troops stormed Cazin, Abdic’s stronghold, after President Izetbegovic ordered military intervention. In the course of a few days, serious fighting broke out with armed civilian supporters of Abdic and dissident policemen facing off against Bosnian army soldiers. More than 50 people were killed in the clashes. When the violence broke out, UN peacekeeping troops were stationed in the area. UN officers tried to get the sides together for talks, but Abdic declined. The Bihac conflict was however discussed with the Bosnian government at an international forum in Geneva.

Croatian and Bosnian Serbs fought alongside Abdic’s troops in December. The Croatian Serbs were eager to ensure their supply routes going through the Bihac area, while the Bosnian Serbs were involved in their own conflict with the Bosnian government. By the end of 1993, Abdic and his allies had managed to gain control over large parts of the Bihac area. The tactical alliance continued to hold off the Bosnian government troops from the Bihac enclave throughout 1994. However, in August, the Bosnian army carried out an offensive and captured the Bihac area. Fighting continued with Abdics forces retaking some towns by the end of the year. The UN peacekeeping troops were still present in Bihacka Krajina. On 28 December, UN officers met with Abdic to try to secure his agreement to observe the general ceasefire in Bosnia. The meeting did not bring about any substantial results.

In January 1995, the Bosnian army launched a new offensive in Bihacka Krajina, backed by HVO (the Bosnian Croat Army). In the coming months, intense fighting continued between the warring parties. On 20 July, Abdics forces, in cooperation with Croatian and Bosnian Serbs, carried out a successful attack in the Bihac region. A week later, Fikret Abdic upgraded the status of the Bihacka Krajina from ‘Autonomous Province’ to Independent Republic.’

Termination of conflict through victory

The outcome of the Bihac conflict was closely interrelated with the ongoing dynamics in the region. As a response to the cooperation between Serb militias and Fikret Abdic, Bosnian President Izetbegovic and Croatian President Tudjman signed a military cooperation agreement. By early August, international pressure on Bosnian Serbs had reached a high level. At the same time, the Croatian government troops successfully attacked the Croatian Serbs. On 6 August 1995, Bosnian and Croatian government troops launched a major offensive on Abdic/Serb positions around Bihac. Without the support of his allies, Fikret Abdic had to admit defeat.