Bosnia on the brink: Leader warns of impending conflict
The President of the Republic of Srpska, which is part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, stated in an interview with the Austrian weekly "Profil" that this state has no chance of surviving as a single entity. According to him, the Muslim community in the country is aiming for war.
What do you need to know?
- Milorad Dodik, the President of the Republic of Srpska, asserted in an interview with the Austrian weekly "Profil" that Bosnia and Herzegovina has no future as a single state.
- Dodik accused the Muslim community of striving for armed conflict and criticized Christian Schmidt, the high representative of the international community in BiH, claiming he wants to place the Serbian nation in concentration camps.
- The political crisis in BiH intensified after Dodik was sentenced to one year in prison and prohibited from holding public office for obstructing Schmidt's decisions.
Milorad Dodik, the president of the Republic of Srpska, expressed in an interview with the Austrian weekly "Profil" his belief that the country cannot survive as a single state. Dodik emphasized that the Muslim community in BiH is striving for armed conflict.
When asked by the journal's reporter to compare the current situation in BiH to that in Yugoslavia shortly before its breakup, the president of the Serbian part of the autonomous country stated, "BiH must collapse, but unlike others, he believes the price for the country's breakup should not be peace." He added, "You must remember that in BiH people are living together who do not want to live together."
The politician stressed that "if necessary, he can count on the support of Vladimir Putin, who has repeatedly assured him that he does not abandon his friends."
Dodik accused the High Representative of the international community in BiH, Christian Schmidt, and Muslims of wanting to place the Serbian nation in concentration camps, referencing events from World War II. "Muslims want war again. They want to bring jihadists here and implement sharia law," said Dodik.
The political crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The political crisis in BiH intensified after the court sentenced Dodik to one year in prison and banned him from holding public office for obstructing Schmidt's decisions. In response, the parliament of the Republic of Srpska passed laws prohibiting the actions of central BiH institutions on its territory.
Dodik, who has been on the US sanctions list since 2022 for violating the Dayton Peace Agreement, admitted to striving for the independence of the Republic of Srpska. In April 2025, Austria and Germany banned entry to their territories for key politicians of the Republic of Srpska, including Dodik.
