Bosnians Warn of Splintering Peace

Bosnian officials on Thursday filed a legal challenge against new laws passed by the Serb-controlled statelet Republika Srpska that bars Bosnian federal judges and police from operating in the region, escalating tensions in the ethnically divided country, the Associated Press reported.

Officials filed the complaint at the country’s constitutional court, saying the legislation violates the country’s constitution and the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement that ended the Bosnian war.

The move comes a week after Bosnian Serb lawmakers passed the controversial laws that would bar the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), as well as federal prosecutors and courts, from operating in the Serb-majority territory.

On Wednesday, Republika Srpska’s leader, Milorad Dodik signed them into law. They are expected to take effect Friday, according to Bloomberg.

Observers noted that the move directly challenges the authority of Bosnia’s central government and has raised concerns about potential confrontations between Serb security forces and Bosnian federal authorities.

Some officials described the measures as an attempted coup that could erode Bosnia’s fragile unity and escalate into a national political and security crisis.

Dodik – who has led Republika Srpska for much of the past two decades – was sentenced last month to one year in prison and a six-year ban from public office for refusing to comply with rulings by Christian Schmidt, the top international envoy overseeing the Dayton accords.

The Bosnian Serb leader has dismissed the verdict as politically motivated and has vowed to appeal while continuing his push for greater autonomy.

His latest move follows years of threats from Republika Srpska to split from Bosnia and align more closely with neighboring Serbia.

The United States and the European Union have repeatedly warned against Republika Srpska’s separatist moves, with the Biden administration imposing sanctions on Dodik and his close allies.