Describe the results of ethnic conflict in Bosnia in the 1990s.

Answer 1

The ethnic conflict in Bosnia in the 1990s resulted in a devastating war that lasted from 1992 to 1995. It was a result of the breakup of Yugoslavia and the desire of different ethnic groups to assert dominance over one another. The war primarily involved three ethnic groups - Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs - and resulted in the displacement of millions of people, along with immense destruction and loss of life.

The conflict started with the Bosnian Serb army attempting to annex areas of Bosnia-Herzegovina to Croatia and Serbia. This led to a war between the Serb-led Yugoslav Army and the newly formed Bosnian Muslim and Croat forces. The conflict escalated into a brutal ethnic cleansing campaign with atrocities committed against civilians and prisoners of war. This included widespread , torture, and murder, along with the destruction of homes, businesses, and cultural heritage sites.

Ultimately, the conflict resulted in the Dayton Accords, signed in 1995, which brought the war to an end. The Accords established a fragile power-sharing system between the three main ethnic groups and the international community played a key role in ensuring its implementation. Despite the peace agreement, the legacy of the conflict continues to shape politics in Bosnia to this day, and ethnic tensions remain a source of instability in the region.