Bosnia and Herzegovina: Independence, Political Structure and Governance

A Brief History of Independence

Bosnia and Herzegovina was formerly one of the six republics within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In March 1992, the country officially declared independence, a move that sparked a devastating three-year war involving its three main ethnic groups – Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs.

The conflict ended with the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement on November 21, 1995, marking the beginning of a new era for Bosnia and Herzegovina as a sovereign, internationally recognized state.

How Bosnia and Herzegovina Is Organized

Under the Dayton Agreement, Bosnia and Herzegovina was established as a single sovereign country within its existing borders, but with a highly decentralized political structure. The country is divided into:

• The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) – Majority Bosniak and Croat population, comprising 51% of the territory.

• Republika Srpska (RS) – Predominantly Serb population, holding 49% of the territory.

• Brčko District – A self-governing administrative unit, under joint sovereignty of both entities.

Political System and Governance

Bosnia and Herzegovina functions as a parliamentary representative democracy with a unique power-sharing structure designed to represent its ethnically diverse population.

The Presidency

The country has a three-member rotating Presidency, which includes:

• One Bosniak and one Croat elected from the Federation

• One Serb elected from Republika Srpska

Each member serves a four-year term, taking turns as head of state in eight-month rotations.

The Presidency is responsible for:

• Executing decisions made by the Parliamentary Assembly

• Representing the country internationally

• Conducting foreign policy

• Appointing ambassadors

• Signing international treaties

Legislative and Executive Bodies

In addition to the Presidency, the state-level institutions include:

• Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, composed of:

  • House of Representatives

  • House of Peoples

• Council of Ministers – Acts as the main executive body

• Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Manages monetary policy and financial stability

Governance Within the Two Entities

Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Divided into 10 cantons

• Each canton has its own government, legislature, and courts

• Highly decentralized with significant autonomy at the canton level

Republika Srpska

• Operates under a centralized system

• Local governance carried out by municipalities

Local short form:	BiH
Conventional long form:	Bosnia and Herzegovina
Government type:	Parliamentary Representative Democracy
Capital:	Sarajevo
Administrative divisions:	Two entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Srspka and District Brčko
Independence:	1 March 1992
Constitution:	Signed in December 1995 as the Annex 4 of the Dayton Peace Agreement
Legal system:	Based on Civil Law System. The legal system is established in line with the Dayton Peace Accord and consists of Constitutional Court with 9 members. There are also entity supreme courts, as well as canton courts and municipality courts in the Federation and the municipality and district courts in the Republika Srpska.
Suffrage:	18 years of age; universal
Elections:	Last held October 2, 2022
Major Political Parties:	Stranka demokratske akcije (SDA) Savez za bolju budućnost (SBB) Savez nezavisnih socijaldemokrata (SNSD) Srpska demokratska stranka (SDS) Hrvatska demokratska zajednica Bosne i Hercegovine (HDZ BIH) Hrvatska demokratska zajednica 1990 (HDZ 1990) Demokratska fronta (DF) Socijaldemokratka partija (SDP)
Executive branch:
Presidents	Šefik Džaferović, Milorad Dodik and Željko Komšić (Tripartite Presidential System)
Head of Government:	Denis Zvizdić, Council of Ministers
Ministries:
	Elmedin Konaković – Minister of Foreign Affairs
	Zukan Helez – Minister of Defense
	Davor Bunoza – Minister of Justice
	Staša Košarac – Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations
	Edin Forto – Minister of Communications and Traffic
	Sevlid Hurtić – Minister of Human Rights and Refugees
	Dubravka Bošnjak – Minister of Civil Affairs