Student-led and citizen-driven protests erupted in Sarajevo and Zenica, calling for accountability over the deaths of 27 people in last year’s floods and demanding institutional reforms.
A student group, “Hoće l ta promjena,” organized a march in Sarajevo towards the Bosnian Parliament, urging an immediate investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the October flood victims in Jablanica, Konjic, and Fojnica. Protesters also called for a review of quarries and environmentally hazardous projects across the country.
Simultaneously, the citizen initiative “Zenica ustaje” organized a demonstration encouraging nationwide solidarity and peaceful protests. “Our shared goal is to establish healthy and functional institutions that serve and protect the people,” the group stated.
Majda Ibraković, one of the protest organizers, highlighted the large turnout of young people leading the movement. The demands include resolving Zenica’s heating issue by March, addressing hospital construction and cancer registry concerns at the cantonal level, and implementing federal measures to curb inflation.
Protesters have announced additional demands next week and a large-scale action if authorities fail to respond.
