What caused the Bosnian War in 1992?

The Bosnian War was primarily caused by the collapse of the Yugoslav federation and the subsequent struggle over the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina.12

Key factors contributing to the outbreak of the conflict in 1992 included:

• Independence Referendum: Following the disintegration of Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Herzegovina held a referendum on independence in early 1992. While the majority of the population voted for sovereignty, the Bosnian Serb population—opposed to the breakup of the Serb-dominated Yugoslav state—largely boycotted the vote.342
• Nationalist Territorial Aspirations: Ethnic nationalists sought to secure control over territories they claimed as their own. Bosnian Serb forces, supported by the Yugoslav People’s Army and the regime of Slobodan Milošević, launched armed campaigns to carve out separate, ethnically homogenous regions.542
• Ethnic Tensions: Long-standing political instability, exacerbated by the manipulation of nationalist sentiments, made cooperation between the country's three main ethnic groups—Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats—increasingly difficult.34

The resulting war involved complex fighting between the Bosnian government, secessionist Serb forces, and Bosnian Croat units, characterized by widespread ethnic cleansing and the siege of Sarajevo.154