Updated July 11, 2024 at 12:00 p.m.
The Srebrenica massacre happened on this day in 1995 during the Bosnian War. Bosnian Serb forces, led by General Ratko Mladić, captured the town of Srebrenica, which was designated as a United Nations Safe Area. Bosnian Serb troops then systematically killed more than 8,000 Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) men and boys in an act of ethnic cleansing.
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What led to the Srebrenica massacre?
The Srebrenica massacre was a culmination of the ethnic tensions and conflicts that arose during the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. The Bosnian War (1992-1995) pitted Bosnian Serbs, Bosniaks, and Croats against each other in a complex web of ethnic and territorial disputes. Srebrenica, located in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, was an area of strategic importance for the Bosnian Serbs, who aimed to create an ethnically pure Serbian state. The Bosniak population in Srebrenica was seen as an obstacle to this goal.
How has the Srebrenica massacre impacted the region and international relations?
The Srebrenica massacre served as a stark reminder of the brutality and human rights abuses committed during the Bosnian War. The genocide contributed to a significant shift in public opinion and prompted increased international intervention to prevent such atrocities in the future. It also highlighted the need for accountability and justice for war crimes. The massacre continues to shape political dynamics and reconciliation efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina.