The Balkans: Bosnia

Pick a Region:. . The Balkans:. . Bosnia

Today, the country of Bosnia is a two-part confederation. The Republika Srpska (Serb Republic) has autonomy in the northern and eastern areas of the country, which were taken over by Serbs during the war. The central, western, and southern parts of the country contain mostly Bosnian Muslims and Croats, who are linked in a federation at the local level.

At the national level, each of the three national groups is represented equally. There are three sets of representatives and officials in most governmental organs. The fighting has stopped in Bosnia due to the presence of troops from many countries, including the United States and Canada, in the United Nations' Implementation Force (IFOR) for the Dayton Accord.

Damage to the economy and infrastructure from the war are great, and local elections are often still hindered by the obstructionist tactics of local nationalists. With the outbreak of fighting in nearby Kosovo in the spring of 1999, IFOR began to fear a recurrence of violence in Bosnia itself. Photo courtesy of UNHCR Media and Public Affairs Unit (A. Hollmann)