Ethnic Conflicts
1. 1.Bosnia-Herzegovina ethnic conflict
2. Background: Bosnia-Herzegovina is a country in the Balkans region of Europe. In the early
1990s, it was part of Yugoslavia, which was made up of different ethnic groups like Serbs,
Croats, and Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims).
3. Breakup of Yugoslavia: Yugoslavia started to break apart in the early 1990s due to political
and ethnic tensions. Slovenia, Croatia, and Macedonia declared independence, which led to
violent conflicts. Bosnia also wanted independence, but its population was more mixed
ethnically.
4. Ethnic Composition: Bosnia had a diverse population with three main ethnic groups:
Bosniaks (Muslims), Serbs (Orthodox Christians), and Croats (Catholics). Each group had its
own cultural and historical ties.
5. Declaration of Independence: In 1992, Bosnia declared independence from Yugoslavia. But
Bosnian Serbs, backed by Serbia, opposed this move. They wanted to remain part of
Yugoslavia or form their own separate state.
6. Outbreak of War: The conflict escalated into a brutal war, marked by ethnic cleansing,
massacres, and widespread violence. Bosnian Serb forces, led by Radovan Karadžić and Ratko
Mladić, targeted Bosniak and Croat civilians in an attempt to create an ethnically pure
Serbian state.
7. Siege of Sarajevo: Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia, was besieged by Bosnian Serb forces for
nearly four years. It was one of the longest sieges in modern history, resulting in thousands
of civilian deaths.
8. Srebrenica Massacre: In 1995, Bosnian Serb forces attacked the UN-declared "safe area" of
Srebrenica, where thousands of Bosniak men and boys had sought refuge. They
systematically murdered over 8,000 of them in what is now recognized as genocide.
9. International Intervention: The conflict drew international attention and intervention. NATO
launched airstrikes against Bosnian Serb positions, eventually leading to the Dayton Accords
in 1995, which ended the war.
10. Dayton Peace Agreement: The Dayton Accords divided Bosnia into two entities: the
Bosniak-Croat Federation and the Republika Srpska, largely along ethnic lines. It also
established a complex political system to govern the country.
11. Aftermath: Bosnia remains deeply divided along ethnic lines, with ongoing tensions and
political instability. Reconciliation efforts continue, but the scars of the conflict are still
evident, and ethnic divisions persist in politics, society, and everyday life.
12. 2;Kosovo
Albanians: The majority population of Kosovo, who wanted independence from Serbia.
Serbs: A minority in Kosovo with deep historical ties to the region. Serbia considers
Kosovo its historical and religious heartland.
Roots of the Conflict:
Tensions go back centuries, but intensified in the 20th century, particularly after
Kosovo's autonomy was revoked by Serbia in 1989.
Albanians felt discriminated against by the Serbian government.
The Kosovo War (1998-1999):
The war erupted between the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), an Albanian rebel group,
and Serbian forces.
The Serbian response was brutal, with accusations of ethnic cleansing against Albanians.
This led to a NATO bombing campaign that pushed Serbia out of Kosovo.
Aftermath:
Kosovo declared independence in 2008, but Serbia doesn't recognize it.
Tensions remain, particularly in Serb-dominated northern Kosovo.
According to Serbian govt , Kosovo was their province .
3.Ethnic conflict in Macedonia
The main ethnic conflict in Macedonia involved tensions between:
Macedonians: The majority ethnic group in the country.
Albanians: A significant minority concentrated in the western part of Macedonia.
Here's a simplified breakdown:
Disagreements: Albanians felt discriminated against by the Macedonian government.
They wanted more cultural rights and political representation,.
Escalation: In 2001, an Albanian rebel group, the National Liberation Army (NLA),
fought against Macedonian security forces.
Armed Insurgency: In early 2001, ethnic Albanian militants, organized under the
National Liberation Army (NLA), launched an armed insurgency in northern and
western parts of Macedonia. They demanded greater rights and autonomy for
Albanians, including official recognition of the Albanian language and increased
representation in government.
Resolution: An agreement (the Ohrid Agreement) in 2001 helped end the violence. It
increased Albanian rights and language use in government.
It's important to note:
The causes of the conflict are complex and have historical roots.
The situation has improved since 2001, but there are still ongoing efforts to promote
ethnic harmony.
4. Nagorno-Karabakh
Who's involved?
Armenia: Supports the majority Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh who want
independence from Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan: Claims Nagorno-Karabakh as its territory despite the Armenian majority.
Roots of the Conflict:
Competing Claims: Both sides have historical ties to the region, leading to
disagreements over ownership.
Soviet Legacy: The unclear borders drawn during the Soviet era contribute to the
tensions.
The Wars:
1st War (1988-1994): Fighting erupted after Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh demanded
unification with Armenia. Armenia ended up controlling Nagorno-Karabakh and
surrounding areas.
2nd War (2020): Azerbaijan recaptured some territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh.
Current Situation:
A fragile ceasefire is in place, but tensions remain high.
Negotiations for a permanent solution haven't been successful so far.
Occasional skirmishes erupt along the border.
Additional Points:
The displacement of people due to the wars is a major humanitarian concern.
International organizations are involved in mediating the conflict.
Recent Conflict: In September 2023, Azerbaijan launched a major
offensive and gained control of most of Nagorno-Karabakh.
