On June 6, the United States Department of Treasury announced new sanctions on two Bosnia and Herzegovina officials. The officials — Marinko Cavara, a member of the Bosnian-Croat party, and Alen Seranic, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare for the Government of Republika Srpska— were accused of threatening the country’s democracy. The U.S. sanctions will block either official’s own assets and prevent transactions between them and U.S. citizens. 

Brian E. Nelson, the Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence of the U.S., states, “Marinko Cavara and Alen Seranic have each sought to pursue ethnonationalist and political agendas at the expense of the democratic institutions and citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.” 

The United States’ targeted sanction on Cavara and Seranic applies pressure on political elites to maintain their obligations and uphold Bosnia’s democracy. As opposed to nationwide sanctions that devastate and destabilize regions, sanctions focused on elites can be advantageous without harming the mass population. Political elites are protected by their wealth and their assets. By barring the accrument of additional profit, the United States is able to push Cavara and Seranic to uphold democratic institutions. However, this is not a sustainable solution. Political autonomy must lie in the hands of Bosnian citizens to ensure they can affect fundamental change without interference from the United States.

Marinko Cavara and Alen Seranic are high-profile individuals who have actively promoted ethnonationalism and racist rhetoric. These violent rhetorics can be traced back to the three-year Bosnian War in the 1990s. Bosnia is comprised of three main ethnic groups — the Bosniaks, the Serbs, and the Croats. Following the dissolution of Yugoslavia, these ethnic groups fought to fill the power vacuum. With the United States’ recognition of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s independence, tensions increased and erupted into the Bosnian War as Serb forces attacked. Approximately 100,000 people were killed in this conflict, the majority being Bosniak Muslims. This atrocity is now recognized as the Bosnian Genocide as the Serb forces sought to ethnically cleanse the territory. The 1995 Dayton Accords later ended the Bosnian War, establishing a government with several levels.

Many years later, many politicians such as Bosnian-Serb leader Milorad Dodik continue to spew anti-Bosniak and racist discourse, advocating the secession of the Republic of Srpska. In January, the United States placed a sanction on Dodik for his continued refusal to fulfill his duties as a political official. Since then, tensions have continued to rise. Cavara is refusing to fulfill his duties of nominating judges, and Seranic has been said to support Dodik and his plans for secession (Al Jazeera). 

It is imperative that racist and nationalist political elites in Bosnia and Herzegovina face repercussions for their incitement of hate and violence. The rising tensions greatly echo the Bosnian War, frightening many Bosniaks and other ethnic groups. The atrocities committed in the 1990s cannot repeat. For the sake of preserving both democracy and life, action must be taken.