How did the Dayton Accords end the Bosnian War?

The Dayton Accords, reached in November 1995, ended the Bosnian War by establishing a General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.1

Negotiated in Dayton, Ohio, by the leaders of Bosnia, Croatia, and Serbia, the agreement halted four years of conflict that had resulted in significant loss of life and displacement. The accords achieved peace through several key measures:1

• State Structure: The agreement preserved Bosnia as a single sovereign state composed of two highly autonomous entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (a Bosniak-Croat federation) and the Republika Srpska (Bosnian Serb Republic), with Sarajevo remaining the undivided capital.12
• Commitment to Peace: The parties agreed to respect each other's sovereign equality, settle disputes peacefully, and uphold human rights and the rights of refugees.1
• Implementation: The agreement mandated cooperation with international entities to investigate war crimes and required the support of international forces to implement the peace plan.1

Annex 4 of the agreement serves as the country's constitution, defining its current political structure and government.1