July 10, 2026 11:22 am (IST)
Follow us:
Bosnia and Herzegovina's politics hurting citizens: UNSC
New York, May 16 (IBNS): Ahead of the 'hotly contested' elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a senior United Nations official on Thursday warned the UN Security Council (UNSC) that the country is politically heading in the wrong direction and that politicians might try to raise inter-ethnic tensions to divert attention from real problems.
“I am increasingly concerned that the country is in danger of falling into a vicious downward cycle of spiteful tit-for-tat politics that it will be difficult to emerge from,” Valentin Inzko, High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, told the 15-member Council at a meeting on the situation in the country.
“The same old mistake – putting the interests of a privileged class before those of the country and its citizens – continues to be made,” he observed.
Ever since the April package of constitutional changes was narrowly rejected in 2006, it has set the country on a downward trajectory, said the High Representative: “Eight years is a long time for a country to be going the wrong way.”
Stressing that the political fighting has led to work just for a chosen few while ignoring the average citizen who is scaling mounting economic and social problems and rampant corruption, Inzko highlighted large scale protests throughout the country in February.
He called these a “wake up call” for local politicians and the international community, and added that “the country could not continue to go on this way indefinitely without serious consequences.”
On the other hand, peaceful protests continued thereafter, representing a “positive step forward to strengthen Bosnia and Herzegovina’s democracy” despite the mixed response from politicians.
In this context, the country is scheduled to hold general elections on 12 October in what will be “the most hotly contested elections since the Daytona/Paris Peace Agreement,” Inzko said referring to the framework which ended three years of interethnic civil strife.
In particular, he expressed concern that in the coming months, the ongoing controversy over residence and voting rights could lead to disputes on the ground, particularly in municipalities across Republika Srpska.
“This is a scenario that all involved must do everything within their power to avoid. It is especially important that no one is discriminated against on the basis of ethnicity or because they are a returnee,” he stressed to the Council.
What Bosnia and Herzegovina badly needs to see in the forthcoming election campaign is a “frank, robust and action-oriented public debate” on how the incoming government plans to address rampant corruption, exceedingly high unemployment, and the lack of progress on Euro-Atlantic integration.
“We need to hear more about plans to reform the economy and create jobs, which is in the vital interest of all citizens of the country regardless of ethnic group,” Inzko said.
(High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina Valentin Inzko briefs the Security Council. UN Photo/Evan Schneider)
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei buried at Iran's holiest shrine as Middle East crisis deepens
Fri, Jul 10 2026
Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to be buried in hometown Mashhad after six days of mourning
Thu, Jul 09 2026
'He asked how my Indian cooking was progressing': Scott Morrison after meeting PM Modi
Thu, Jul 09 2026
Third tanker hit in 24 hours in Strait of Hormuz; drone strike raises fresh shipping fears
Tue, Jul 07 2026
Twin blasts rock Syria during Macron’s visit; 18 injured in explosions near Tourism Ministry
Tue, Jul 07 2026
'Death threat' before Melbourne event? Australia probes online post targeting PM Modi ahead of visit
Sat, Jul 04 2026