The European Union (EU) announced it will send additional troops to its peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina due to rising tensions between the central government and leaders of the Serb-majority entity, Republika Srpska (RS).
The EU-led peacekeeping force, EUFOR, stated on Friday that it would temporarily increase the number of troops deployed in the country, although the exact number was not disclosed.
“This is a proactive measure aimed at assisting Bosnia and Herzegovina in the interest of all citizens,” stated EUFOR in a press release. The mission emphasized that the increased presence would be visible to the public in the coming days and was directly related to its role in supporting Bosnian authorities in maintaining security and stability.
Currently, EUFOR has around 1,500 troops as part of a multinational battalion based in Sarajevo, consisting of forces from Austria, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Moldova, North Macedonia, Romania, and Turkey.
This announcement follows the Bosnian Constitutional Court’s decision on March 7 to halt the implementation of laws passed by the Republika Srpska parliament, which had banned the work of Bosnia’s national judiciary, prosecution, and investigative agencies within its territory. These laws were declared unconstitutional, and the court temporarily suspended them, with plans for a final ruling after a full review.
Tensions between Bosnia’s leadership in Sarajevo and RS leaders have escalated recently, with the latter accused of seeking eventual secession from Bosnia. These allegations have been denied by RS leaders.
The situation intensified following a one-year prison sentence for Milorad Dodik, the RS President, for actions that, according to the Western governments, aimed at separating Republika Srpska from Bosnia. Dodik, who has close ties with Russia, is under sanctions from the U.S. and the UK.
On March 4, the EU condemned a Russian-style foreign agent law passed in Republika Srpska, accusing its authorities of undermining Bosnia’s constitutional order.
