Youth activists announce Protests ahead of Sarajevo Canton Assembly session

Organizers have invited students, workers, and all citizens to join the assembly, stating that regardless of the session's outcome, whether it results in a technical mandate or a new government, officials are duty-bound to begin performing their jobs effectively. This move follows a previous gathering on February 27, where youth representatives demanded an urgent session to address the leadership vacuum.

The wave of protests was triggered by a tragic tram accident in Sarajevo on February 12, which resulted in the death of young artist and Academy of Fine Arts student Erdoan Morankic and left a 17-year-old girl, Ella, seriously injured.

The demands put forward by the youth activists include the immediate remediation of evident security risks and the appointment of expert managers to all vacant positions within relevant institutions. They are also seeking the introduction of clear criteria for welfare, such as free textbooks, to ensure aid reaches those in need rather than the children of officials. Furthermore, they demand a budget revision to prioritize the maintenance of the public transport fleet and the public disclosure of responsible individuals' names alongside deadlines of 30, 60, and 90 days for problem resolution.

The Students' Parliament of the University of Sarajevo (SPUS) has issued its own specific requirements to the authorities. SPUS demands that the public be informed of all circumstances, causes, and the clear chain of responsibility regarding the fatal accident immediately upon the conclusion of the investigation. They are also calling for the prompt public release of data concerning the safety and servicing records of Sarajevo's trams.

Additionally, the student body is seeking the institutional strengthening of oversight regarding public transport companies, with clearly defined deadlines and accountability for addressing irregularities. Their demands extend to the legal and financial status of student housing, insisting on the fulfilment of founding acts and contractual obligations, and the inclusion of the "Student Center" Sarajevo as a permanent budget item. Finally, SPUS insists that the director of the "Student Center" be appointed based strictly on professional and expert criteria.