Which ethnic groups were involved in the Bosnian War?
The three primary ethnic groups involved in the Bosnian War (1992–1995) were the Bosniaks, the Serbs, and the Croats.12
These groups, which share a common South Slav heritage, are historically associated with three distinct religious traditions: Islam (Bosniaks), Orthodox Christianity (Serbs), and Roman Catholicism (Croats). During the conflict, these groups were involved in complex military and political struggles as nationalist aspirations led to the violent disintegration of the region.3214
While the war was characterized by ethnic cleansing and shifting alliances, the primary conflict involved Bosnian Serb forces—supported by the Yugoslav army and the regime in Serbia—against the Bosnian government, which was initially supported by Bosnian Croat forces. Tensions also led to a period of conflict between Bosniaks and Bosnian Croats in 1993–1994, before the two groups eventually formed a joint federation.14