SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina

In a move that could fuel separatist fears, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Serb entity has decided to establish a border police force for itself, as announced by Bosnia’s Serb president on Monday.

“A Working Group has also been formed and held its first meeting today to draft a law that will regulate the work of the border police in Republika Srpska. The legal framework will be strictly in accordance with the Dayton Agreement and its Annex 2,” Milorad Dodik said on X, referring to the 1995 agreement that ended the Bosnian War.

He emphasized that between 1996 and 2000, Republika Srpska authorities had controlled the entity’s border.

But in 2000, then-High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch – tasked with implementing the 1995 accord – introduced the Bosnia and Herzegovina State Border Service, a decision which Dodik claims violated the Dayton Agreement and Bosnia's Constitution.

A closed session of the Republika Srpska government is scheduled for later in the day to address broader political and security issues affecting both the Serb entity and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Dodik confirmed his attendance alongside Zeljka Cvijanovic, the current chair of Bosnia Herzegovina's Presidency.

Escalating political crisis

The announcement comes amid an ongoing political crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina, largely driven by Dodik’s leadership.

Dodik was recently sentenced to a year in prison and received a six-year ban from holding the office of Republika Srpska president in a first-instance ruling by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The ruling found him guilty of disregarding the decisions of the Christian Schmidt, the current high representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In response, the majority led by Dodik’s Alliance of Independent Social Democrats in the Republika Srpska National Assembly passed laws prohibiting the work of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s judicial and security institutions within the entity. This move drew strong condemnation from the international community.

European leaders and officials from Türkiye, Germany, France, Spain, Britain, and the US criticized Dodik’s actions, warning that they pose a serious threat to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s stability.

Legal actions and international response

The Bosnia and Herzegovina Constitutional Court issued a temporary measure suspending Republika Srpska laws that sought to prevent the State Investigation and Protection Agency, Bosnia and Herzegovina prosecutors, the Bosnia and Herzegovina Court, and the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council from operating in Republika Srpska.

Bosnia and Herzegovina prosecutors also ordered the detention of Dodik and Republik’s prime minister and parliament speaker. The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina subsequently ordered a one-month detention for Dodik, Viskovic, and Stevandić due to their refusal to appear for hearings after an investigation was launched into them for undermining the constitutional order.

The latest developments are expected to further deepen the ongoing political crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with strong opposition from Bosniak and pro-Bosnian officials.