Bosnia and Herzegovina 2009 Crime & Safety Report

Crime & Safety Report

Overall Crime & Safety Situation

The overall crime rate in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) remains high, with the greatest concentration of incidents occurring in urban areas.  Crime statistics for 2008 indicate that there were 8,831 criminal offenses reported in Sarajevo, 8.5 percent fewer than in 2007.  While this appears to be a positive development, it is widely accepted that this only reflects a decrease in crimes reported, and not an actual decrease in crime.

The vast majority of crimes that affect the American and international communities are non-violent street crime, theft, and crimes of opportunity.  The high-end vehicles and modern residences of the international community tend to serve as an advertisement for the valuables inside.  Residential break-ins are common in the international community, to include late night robbery when residents are present.   Quality locks and good quality alarms remain the best deterrent to residential break-ins and theft.  Petty thieves and pick-pockets are also rife in the Sarajevo area.  Perpetrators tend to focus on tourist areas and public transportation.  As in any large city, vigilance and personal security awareness will aid in the prevention of most street crime.

Violent crime (murder, car-jacking, rape, and mugging) is not a significant concern in Sarajevo and BIH as a whole. Outside of Sarajevo, a slightly more lawless atmosphere persists, with the ratio of violent to non-violent crime being higher than in the capitol.  To date, however, the American and international community has not been the target of such crimes.

Along with street crime, there is a significant organized crime element in BIH.  Crime groups are involved in smuggling, narcotics trafficking, human trafficking for prostitution, and other transnational crime.  Violence among organized crime groups or connected individuals is quite common.  As a result of the war in the early 1990s, military grade firearms and munitions are abundant in BIH.  Violent crimes are often committed with these weapons to include: machine gun attacks, car bombings, rocket attacks, and an increasing amount of grenade attacks. Though the expatriate community is not specifically targeted, they could become victims due to circumstance or proximity.

BIH Police forces are very responsive to requests from the U.S. Embassy.  That being said, they generally suffer from a shortage of manpower and resources which limits their ability to provide a comprehensive level of law enforcement to the community as a whole.

Road Conditions

Poor road conditions, inclement weather, and inattentive drivers can make Sarajevo and BIH a challenging place to operate a motor vehicle.  Vehicular accidents are a major concern for all Americans.  Traffic laws are only sporadically enforced, and local drivers tend to drive recklessly, including passing in no passing zones and on blind curves.  There were 30,510 traffic accidents in 2008, resulting in 9,085 injuries and 326 deaths.

Depending on the location of the accident, emergency care medical facilities may not be readily available to treat victims. 

The vast majority of roads in BIH are two-lanes and in poor condition.  BIH has approximately twenty miles of paved four-lane highway.  Intercity roads tend to be narrow and lack guardrails, which is particularly dangerous given the mountainous geography in most of the country.  These dangers are compounded by BIH's adverse and unpredictable weather which often includes heavy fog, rain, ice, and snow.  Night-time driving presents additional hazards as most roads outside of city limits are unlit and have poorly-marked obstructions.  Extreme caution should be exercised while driving vehicles in any part of BIH, particularly at night and during the winter months.

Political Violence

Historical Perspective

Although the fourteen years since the Dayton Peace Accords have been generally peaceful, there has been a sharp rise in nationalist rhetoric over the last two and a half years.  All three of BIH's constituent peoples have laid out different visions for the future of the state, contributing to rising political tension.   The leadership of Republika Srpska (RS) has directly challenged the authorities of the state government in both actions and words, and RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik has made public statements suggesting that he would not rule out violence in the event of a direct confrontation between the state institutions of BIH and those of the RS.  The population and leadership of the RS have expressed deep sympathies for the Serbian position on Kosovo.  A political or military crisis in Kosovo or Serbia would likely cause subsequent demonstrations in Republika Srpska, and could make western interests susceptible to targeting.  Dodik, who has firm control of the security environment in the RS, publicly predicted unrest in the wake of Kosovo's independence in February 2008, and there were subsequent incidents of violence surrounding protests at that time.

Regional Terrorism

In the 1992-1995 war, a large number of fighters from around the Islamic world traveled to BIH to aid the Bosnian Muslim war effort.  Several hundred of those fighters eventually settled in BIH.  Among those who remained, a significant number are active in Islamic fundamentalist congregations and organizations.  These foreign elements have contributed to the gradual radicalization of certain segments of the Bosnian Muslim community. 

Organized Crime

Organized criminal groups exist in BIH, and there have been incidences of public murders and violent attacks on public places that have been attributed to organized crime.

International Terrorism and Transnational Crime

Like many European countries, BiH is not without elements willing to participate in the support and financing of terrorist organizations.  Although there have been no terrorist attacks against western interests in BIH, extremist groups do exist which may have ties to terrorist support structure and financing.  In October 2005, a small group of individuals with extremist affiliations was arrested in BIH on suspicion of planning terrorist acts.

Civil Unrest

Organized demonstrations are relatively common in BIH and tend to be peaceful.  In rare cases these are demonstrations directed towards the U.S. Embassy.  However, most of the time they are organized in other locations in Sarajevo and either move to the U.S. Embassy, or are an impromptu result of proximity.

Following Kosovo's declaration of independence in February 2008, protesters attempted to attack the Embassy's branch office in Banja Luka over the course of several days.  During this period the branch office was closed for business and sustained minor damages.

The most recent civil unrest occurred when elements of BIH's Muslim community organized modest protests in public venues directed at the U.S. Embassy during Israel's military actions in Gaza.  While these protest remained peaceful, some demonstrators marched to the vicinity of the U.S. Embassy and conducted smaller impromptu demonstrations that required police support to disperse.

Post Specific Concerns

Environmental

The last major earthquake in BIH occurred in Banja Luka on October 26, 1969.  It registered 6.0 on the Richter scale and left 15 dead and over 1,000 people injured.  There was widespread destruction across the region with an estimated 36,000 apartments damaged.  While there have been numerous minor tremors since that time, the earthquake of 1969 serves as a stark reminder that the entire country is vulnerable to severe earthquakes.  In addition to earthquakes, BIH is also subject to seasonal disasters such as floods, mud slides, forest fires, and droughts.

Landmines and Unexploded Ordinance (UXO)

BIH has a significant presence of landmines as a result of the conflict in the 1990s.

Approximately 487 people have been killed by landmines since 1996, which includes 15 individuals killed in 2008. Current estimates indicate that there are between 500,000 and 1 million landmines and other UXO remaining in approximately 13,000 minefields throughout the country.  The city of Sarajevo itself is ringed with mountains that contain known minefields that mark former lines of confrontation.  Only about 30 percent of the minefields countrywide are clearly marked.  De-mining experts recommend that people stay on paved or hard packed surfaces.  Any hiking or other outdoor activities should be done in officially cleared areas or with reputable guide companies.

Kidnappings

Kidnapping is not a significant problem in BIH, but has been known to occur. There were a total of 4 kidnappings in 2008 in Sarajevo, none of which targeted the American or international community.

Police Response

The local police are generally helpful to the international community, but have limited resources, minimal English (or other foreign language capability), and insufficient capability to deter and/or detect crime.  The police respond reasonably quickly to calls for assistance.  The Sarajevo Canton Police claim a 61 percent criminal case closure rate - higher than much of Western Europe.  However, the complicated political structure and fragmented police system throughout BIH degrade effective coordination of police investigations.  Therefore, the criminal closure rate remains somewhat suspect.

Police Assistance

The emergency contact number for the police throughout the country is 122.  American citizens are advised to contact the U.S. Embassy American Citizen Services (ACS) at the Consular Section at 387-(0) 33-445-700, if arrested/detained or are a victim of crime.

Medical Emergencies

Contact Information

In the event of a medical emergency, people can call 124 throughout the country to reach the ambulance service.

Hospital contact numbers in Sarajevo are:

• General number - 387-061-147-069
• Emergency number for Kosevo Hospital - 033-297-000, ext. 387-(0).  For a  non-emergency dial 33-285-102 (only until 1600 hrs).
• Number for the State Hospital - 387-033-285-100

Overall, medical care in BIH is limited, especially outside Sarajevo.  European brand prescription and over-the-counter drugs are available in Sarajevo and other major towns.  However, supply problems are common so it is advised that Americans seek routine medical treatment and fill prescriptions prior to arriving in country.

Air Ambulance Service

There are no air ambulance services in BIH.  Air ambulance services have to be arranged from other countries in Europe.

Travel Precautions

Scams

In Sarajevo, as in any metropolitan area in the United States or Europe, a little common sense goes a long way.  All Americans should be aware of their surroundings and keep control of their belongings at all times.  Individuals choosing to ride public transportation should be vigilant of pickpockets and impostor ticket controllers.  Taxicabs are plentiful, inexpensive, and generally safe in Sarajevo.  Visitors should remember to be alert for landmines especially if hiking or traveling off paved roads or paths.   Local and international news broadcasts should be monitored for events that may impact the local security situation.

Best Security Practices

It is important to understand that crime in Sarajevo is not tracked or determined geographically.  There is little to no differentiation between neighborhoods in terms of crime rate.  All neighborhoods experience a relatively equal amount of crime, but within them criminals focus on the more affluent, including members of the American and international community.  Crime is generally non-violent but may occur anywhere at any time of the day or night.  As indicated above, situational awareness is the best defense against non-violent crime.

For Further Information

U.S. Embassy American Citizen Services (ACS) can be contacted at the Consular Section through the main Embassy number 387-(0) 33-445-700 (Switchboard/Operator). 

The following offices can be reached at the same number: 

Regional Security Office, Medical Office, Consular Section, Political Section, the Economic Section, and Marine Post One.

OSAC Country Council

Post does not currently have an OSAC Country Council.  The Regional Security Officer, Karen Schaefer, may be contacted for additional information.