UN Peacekeepers Surrounded by Bosnian Government Army Troops in Bihac Enclave

Strategic Insights -

In a potentially volatile situation, Bosnian government army troops from the Fifth Corps have surrounded a French battalion of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) in the northwestern Bosnian enclave of Bihac. The encirclement is being attributed to concerns over "armed terrorists" infiltrating the town, although UN officials privately suggest that the true motivation may be an effort to crack down on black marketeers within the UN ranks. The situation remains tense, with Fifth Corps soldiers pointing weapons at UNPROFOR personnel.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Bosnian government army Fifth Corps has surrounded a French battalion of UNPROFOR soldiers in the Bihac enclave, allegedly to protect them from "armed terrorists".
  • UN officials consider this a "situation unacceptable", citing concerns that the Fifth Corps is restricting U.N. movement without justification.
  • The Bihac pocket, a U.N.-declared safe area in Bosnia-Herzegovina, became divided last September after Muslim leader Fikret Abdic declared autonomy with the help of Bosnian government army rebels.
  • The Fifth Corps has been nibbling away at the northern third of the Bihac pocket under Abdic's control in recent times.
  • Abdic has signed a friendship pact with Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic and received weapons and troops from breakaway Serbs in neighboring Croatia.
  • UN officials suspect that the true motivation behind the Fifth Corps' actions may be an effort to crack down on black marketeers within the UN ranks, who are suspected of smuggling fuel and food to enemy Muslims.

Statistics:

  • The Bihac pocket is the largest of six U.N.-declared safe areas in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
  • The Fifth Corps has control over the northern third of Bihac pocket.
  • The breakaway Serb group in neighboring Croatia has supplied Abdic with weapons and troops on occasion.
  • The number of UNPROFOR soldiers surrounded by the Fifth Corps is not specified.
  • The time period during which the Fifth Corps has been nibbling away at the Bihac pocket is specified as "recent times".

Sources:

  • UN spokesman Paul Risley, cited as saying "Fifth Corps soldiers are pointing weapons at UNPROFOR personnel, and we consider that unacceptable situation..."
  • U.N. officials, citing suspicions of black marketeering within the UN ranks.
  • Fikret Abdic, Bosnian Muslim leader who declared autonomy for the Bihac pocket with the help of Bosnian government army rebels.
  • Radovan Karadzic, Bosnian Serb leader with whom Abdic has signed a friendship pact.
  • Breakaway Serb group in neighboring Croatia, which has supplied Abdic with weapons and troops on occasion.