SUMMARY

The non-state conflict between the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Serbian Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina (Republika Srpska), became a short conflict due to the rather early independence of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The onset of the conflict dates back to March 1992 and is transformed into a state-based conflict as the government in Belgrade recognized the independence of Bosnia-Herzegovina on 27 April 1992. For more information on the state-based conflict, see the conflict over government in Bosnia-Herzegovina in the database.

During the communist era, the head of the state, Josip “Tito” Broz, managed to maintain the cohesiveness of Yugoslavia’s six republics despite rather significant economic differences between them. However, after Tito’s death in 1980, the different ethnic groups expressed their grievances. The increased nationalism was possible due to a democratization process in the 1980s. Kosovo Albanians, never enjoying the status as a republic within Yugoslavia, openly demonstrated as Kosovo was one of the poorest regions. The irascible response by Albanians to the situation in Kosovo reawakened a shallowly dormant Serbian nationalism. As Slobodan Milosevic rose to power, he skillfully played the nationalist card in order to accumulate support and pave his way to presidency.

The uprising in Kosovo rendered a domino effect and the nationalism in Bosnia came as no surprise as the general sense of ethnic belonging among the different Yugoslavian ethnicities was expressed. The thriving sense of identity was ubiquitous throughout the whole of Yugoslavia and the Bosnian Muslims were no anomaly.

In the early 1990s, Bosnia-Herzegovina was a smoldering ethnic compound where the ethnic tension between Bosniaks (referring to the Muslim population) and Christian Orthodox Serbs erupted into a bloody conflict rendering thousands of dead and a mass exodus of Bosniaks as well as Serbs. The non-state conflict was the beginning of what was to become the worst European armed conflict crisis since the end of World War II. The origin of the conflict is based on several factors where the Bosnian government led by Alija Izetbegović, was inspired by the secessionist wars fought by Slovenia and Croatia. In addition, the Bosniaks would not accept to be dictated by the Serb majority. On 1 March 1992, Izetbegović declared independence from the Yugoslavian republic and on 27 April 1992, Bosnia-Herzegovina was recognized as an independent state due to a constitutional amendment by the central government in Belgrade.

The flourishing nationalism was the main cause of the conflict despite additional factors as the Serb minority within Bosnia vehemently denounced the minority status they would gain from an independent Bosnia. The Serbian Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina launched an offensive by March 1992 and the first clash took place between Serbian militia and Bosnian police force in Bosanski Brod. Thereafter, violent clashes between different armed formations in Bosnia became increasingly frequent. The Violence escalated by April-May, with killings occurring regularly in Sarajevo and in other parts of Bosnia. These incidents occurred despite a cease-fire on 13 April, preceded by serious clashes in Sarajevo beginning on 5 April.

The reaction from the international community was slow and no war preventive measures were taken during this short period of time; neither by the EU nor the UN despite the U.S. and the EU recognizing the Bosnian independence in early April. The strongest reaction was the U.S. condemning of the intense Serbian aggression in Bosnia- Herzegovina.

The non-state conflict between the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbian Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina is first included in UCDP data in 1992. In April the same year, clashes had resulted in over 25 battle-related deaths. On 27 April, 1992, Bosnia-Herzegovina was recognized as an independent state. Consequently, the fighting that occurred between the Government of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Serbian Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina after that date is registered as a state-based conflict of UCDP organized violence.