Bosnian Defence Minister Zukan Helez on Dodik’s Secessionist Threats, Srebrenica Denial, and Bosnia’s Fragile Future
Bosnia and Herzegovina, a land where the past never seems to stay buried. Decades after the 1995 Dayton Accords, which brought an end to a bloody and brutal war, the country remains in a state of fragile peace, haunted by ghosts of ethnic divisions and threats of a return to violence. Today, the spectre of secessionism, genocide denial, and nationalism threatens to rip Bosnia apart once more.
Amidst this precarious situation, I sat down with Zukan Helez, Bosnia’s Minister of Defence. His task is no easy one: protecting Bosnia’s sovereignty while keeping an eye on simmering tensions within the Republika Srpska, where Milorad Dodik, the entity’s Serb nationalist leader, continues to push for independence and openly denies the Srebrenica genocide. Dodik’s rhetoric, chillingly reminiscent of the 1990s, is testing Bosnia’s territorial integrity—and Helez knows it.
“It’s a familiar narrative,” Helez tells me, his voice steady but laced with concern. “Dodik is using the same divisive language that fuelled the war. He’s trying to convince Serbs that Bosnia is not a safe place for them, and we’ve heard this before—right before the war broke out.”
This isn’t just rhetoric to rattle sabers. The rise of nationalist fervour in Republika Srpska has reignited talk of secession, with Dodik making thinly veiled threats of breaking away from Bosnia entirely. His words find support not only in Belgrade, with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić frequently aligning himself with Dodik, but also in Moscow, where Vladimir Putin’s playbook of stoking ethnic divisions and territorial disputes has served as an ominous inspiration.
But Minister Helez is not sitting idly by. He’s preparing for the worst, even as he hopes for the best.
The Rise of Secessionism: Bosnia’s Time Bomb
For years, Bosnia has been a country at war with itself, held together more by the fragile glue of international oversight than by any shared vision of unity. The 1995 Dayton Agreement may have ended the shooting, but it also codified a deeply divided system. Bosnia is split into two entities—one for the Bosniaks and Croats, and another for the Serbs—and the Republika Srpska, where Dodik holds court, has become a hotbed for secessionist ambitions. Dodik is doing everything he can to tear Bosnia apart at the seams.
“Milorad Dodik’s agenda is dangerous,” Helez says flatly. “He’s not just challenging the integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina; he’s inciting division, fear, and hatred—just like the leaders who led us to war in the ‘90s.”
It’s not hard to see why Helez is worried. Dodik’s actions go beyond political posturing. His government in Republika Srpska has been methodically undermining Bosnia’s national institutions, calling into question everything from Bosnia’s legitimacy as a state to its laws against genocide denial—an issue that remains the nation’s open wound. For survivors of the war and genocide, Dodik’s denial of Srebrenica—a massacre recognized by international courts as genocide—is nothing short of psychological warfare.
In the Minister’s view, Dodik’s actions are deeply tied to his personal legal troubles. “He’s using the people to shield himself from accountability,” Helez argues. “He faces criminal charges, and like many populists, he’s trying to distract from his personal misdeeds by stirring ethnic grievances and blaming outside enemies.”
Helez is clear-eyed about what Dodik’s gambit represents: a ticking time bomb that, if unchecked, could explode into violence once again. The minister makes no bones about Dodik’s external support, which he says makes the situation even more volatile. “He’s following Putin’s playbook—stirring up nationalism to deflect from internal failures, using Russia as a shield,” he says. “And he’s got backing from Vučić in Serbia, who shares his vision of a ‘Serbian world.’”
Bosnia’s Military: Ready for a Fight?
With Dodik’s rhetoric escalating, the obvious question is: Could Bosnia defend itself in the event of a serious secessionist attempt? It’s a question that has been on the minds of many in the region, particularly with the ongoing war in Ukraine raising fears that conflicts in Eastern Europe might reignite old fires in the Balkans.
Helez is confident that Bosnia’s military is ready to defend the country—but there’s a process in place. “If there’s any aggression, the EUFOR forces and NATO are the first line of defence,” Helez explains. “The Dayton Agreement, specifically Annex 1A and 2, laid out a clear framework for intervention. EUFOR and NATO are obligated to protect Bosnia’s borders and sovereignty.”
But Bosnia is not completely reliant on foreign forces. “Our armed forces are capable,” Helez insists. “We’ve come a long way since the war. Today, we have multi-ethnic armed forces, and we work closely with neighbouring countries like Croatia, Serbia, Kosovo, and Montenegro. We train together, we exchange cadets, and we are constantly improving our capabilities.”
The minister is keen to emphasise that Bosnia’s military is not just a fighting force but a symbol of what the country can—and should—be. “Our multi-ethnic army is a model for how Bosnia can function,” he says. “It shows that people from different ethnic groups can work together for a common goal. That’s the future of Bosnia, and that’s what we’re defending.”
Still, Helez doesn’t shy away from the gravity of the situation. “We’re ready for whatever comes, but peace here is fragile,” he says. “We know that. We live it every day.”
The Kosovo Parallel: A Cautionary Tale
I ask Helez about the parallels between Bosnia and Kosovo, where in September 2023, an attack in Banjska raised alarm bells across the region. The attack, orchestrated by Serbian paramilitary leader Milan Radoicic, was seen by many as a consequence of the West’s growing tolerance of Serbia’s aggressive narratives. Could Bosnia be next?
Helez is cautious but firm in his belief that Bosnia’s situation is unique. “Bosnia and Kosovo can’t be directly compared,” he says. “Kosovo has advanced further in its NATO integration process, and while I support Kosovo’s full independence, Bosnia’s circumstances are different. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t paying attention.”
The minister is quick to point out that Bosnia’s international partnerships remain strong. “We’ve been working closely with our allies to ensure that Bosnia’s territorial integrity is respected. We can’t afford to let any outside players stir the pot here,” he says. “And we’re prepared for any threats that might arise.”
Genocide Denial: A Wound That Won’t Heal
At the heart of Bosnia’s divisions is the legacy of Srebrenica, where over 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were slaughtered by Bosnian Serb forces in July 1995. The massacre, ruled a genocide by international courts, remains a bitter point of contention in the country. Dodik’s repeated denial of the genocide and glorification of war criminals like Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic have only deepened the rift.
Helez is blunt about the impact of this denial. “It’s not just a political statement—it’s an assault on the dignity of the victims and a direct challenge to any hope of reconciliation in this country,” he says. “The truth about Srebrenica has been systematically undermined for 27 years. As long as genocide denial continues, we will struggle to move forward.”
For Helez, the international community’s role in combating this denial is crucial. “We need the world to stand firm on the truth,” he says. “The EU and the U.S. have been vocal in their support, but we need more than words. We need real consequences for those who continue to deny what happened here.”
The Path Forward: Hope Amidst Uncertainty
As our conversation draws to a close, Helez reflects on Bosnia’s future. It’s clear that the road ahead is uncertain, and the country remains deeply divided along ethnic lines. The scars of the past are still fresh, and the rise of nationalism, coupled with external interference, poses a serious threat to Bosnia’s fragile peace.
But amidst the uncertainty, Helez holds on to hope. “Bosnia is a place where the past is never far behind, but that doesn’t mean we can’t build a better future,” he says. “Our army, our people, and our international partners are committed to keeping this country together. We’ve been through too much to let it fall apart again.”
In a region where history weighs heavily, Zukan Helez knows that the fight for Bosnia’s future is far from over. As the secessionist threats grow louder and genocide denial continues to spread like a poison, Bosnia stands at a crossroads—one that will determine whether it remains a united country or fractures under the pressure of nationalism and division.
For now, Helez and the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina are holding the line. But how long can they keep the past from repeating itself?
Vudi Xhymshiti, founder and chief editor of The Frontliner Magazine, brings a wealth of experience in reporting on global armed conflicts and political issues. With a background in Documentary Photography and Photojournalism from the University of the Arts London, and studies in Political Science, International Relations, and Diplomacy, Vudi skilfully merges human rights insights with dedicated journalism. His ethical and thoughtful reporting has graced top publications like The Guardian and The New York Times. At The Frontliner, launched in 2023, he explores the profound effects of conflicts on law, human rights, and freedoms, continuing his commitment to impactful storytelling.
