Bosnia's land crisis: Republic of Srpska's secession fears

According to "Oslobodjenje," repatriates are encountering significant challenges as their private property is being confiscated by RS authorities. The newspaper notes that large swathes of private land have been appropriated without intervention from the central institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, leaving owners without legal protection regarding human and property rights.

One pertinent example is the case of Salim Mustafić, who purchased land in the 1980s with the intent to build a home. Upon recently visiting the local authorities, he was informed that his plot had been seized. A lawyer explained that the area would be fenced, afforested, and designated as the main hunting ground of the Republic of Srpska. Mustafić has declared he will contest this decision to reclaim his land.

Mustafić has sought assistance from the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees and the Ministry of Displaced Persons of Bosnia and Herzegovina, urging legal support for thousands in similar predicaments. He stressed that non-Serbs are subjected to third-rate citizenship treatment and require urgent support.

Interviewees from "Oslobodjenje" underscore the inaction of Bosnia and Herzegovina's central institutions, forcing repatriates to individually pursue legal challenges against RS authorities.

The newspaper suggests that these actions may be intended to position the Republic of Srpska for a bid for independence. It has been highlighted that the RS's intentions have been apparent for some time. However, the stance of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the international community, which appears to passively observe human rights violations and property confiscations, remains ambiguous.

Milorad Dodik, the President of the Republic of Srpska, has frequently questioned the rationale for Bosnia and Herzegovina's existence. In February 2023, during an interview with Russia Today, he expressed his aim for the Republic of Srpska to achieve independent status.

Source: PAP/WP