The migrant situation in Bihac is significantly calmer today compared to the 2018-2019 period, but the city's mayor, Elvedin Sedic, warns that complacency is not an option.

According to Sedic, Bihac and its residents remain vulnerable to sudden changes in the situation.

“When it comes to migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the focus is still on Hadžići near Sarajevo and Bihac in Krajina. A greater influx of migrants means their distribution to these two centers, which once again places the burden of the migrant crisis on these local communities,” Sedic stated.

The mayor stressed the need for a national migration management strategy to evenly distribute the burden across all local communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He pointed out that there is not a single reception center in Republika Srpska, which, in his view, is unfair to the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“While there is no migrant center in Republika Srpska, the migrant crisis is not even discussed there. This issue needs to be addressed at the national level, through the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Security, to prepare for a potential new wave of migrants,” Sedic emphasized.

Although the current situation is not alarming, the number of migrants passing through Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2024 is the highest in recent years. Sedic explained that increased migrant movement toward the western border has eased the pressure on Bihac.

“The moment the EU or Croatia decides to tighten their border controls, Bihac could find itself in a situation similar to 2018-2019, which we cannot allow,” Sedic warned.

The mayor reiterated that local communities like Bihac cannot handle the migration burden alone and called for a faster response from state institutions.

“The migrant crisis is a problem for all of Bosnia and Herzegovina, not just Bihac and Hadzici,” Sedic concluded.

He added that Bihac remains a symbol of resilience and humanity in the migrant crisis, but systemic and equitable solutions are needed to ensure long-term protection for both the residents of Bihac and the migrants themselves.