Economic recession causes unrest in Bosnia-Herzegovina: analyst

VIDEO: Economic recession causes unrest in Bosnia-Herzegovina: analyst

The economic recession in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) is the main cause of its current unrest, the most serious one since the civil war ended in 1995, said analysts of the country.

Hundreds of unemployed workers and students took to the street on February 5 in Tuzla, a once-healthy industrial hub where there are now some 100,000 residents who have lost their jobs. The unrest spread to Sarajevo and some 20 other cities now. The civil war in the early 1990s has left the country’s economy in recession, triggering high unemployment. According to the reports, the unemployment rate in the country jumped to 45 percent at the end of last year, with youth unemployment exceeding 60 percent. Expert believes the protests spread across the country quickly as people are suffering from poverty.

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“The situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina is terrible in the last 25 years. The economy has been in setback and people’s living standard has fallen to the lowest level. The biggest obstacle to BiH’s development is the ethnic issue. However, this incident now is not related to the ethnic problem, but an appeal relating to people’s basic living problem,” said Vlastimir Mijovic, an expert of economic and political issues.

Bosnia-Herzogovina remains a nation divided. Executive powers are split between the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), the Republika Srpska . Each has its own president, government and other administrative bodies.

Protests were continuing in the capital Sarajevo and other cities across the country, calling government officials “criminals” and urging them to resign. Several local governments, including the government of Sarajevo Canton, have announced their resignations. Meanwhile, the FBiH has not yet showed any sign of resignation. Mijovic said it will take at least one year to settle the unrest.

“It will take at least one year. I am afraid that the violent clashes and tense situation that would occur during people’s protests and government’s resistance in the next half a year would continue to draw international community’s attention,” Mijovic said.

In Sarajevo, protesters clashed with police on Friday, setting the presidential building and the government building of Sarajevo Canton on fire. Over 60 people were injured, including about 40 police officers.