Bosnian mujahideen
| Bosnian mujahideen | |
|---|---|
| Bosanski mudžahedini | |
| Active | 1992–1995 |
| Disbanded | 1995 |
| Country | Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Allegiance | Bosniaks |
| Branch | Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | 500–5,000; most estimates are in the 1,000-2,000 range (details) |
| Engagements | Bosnian War |
The Bosnian mujahideen (Bosnian: Bosanski mudžahedini) were a force of foreign Muslim volunteers who fought on behalf of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Bosnian War (1992–1995). They first arrived in central Bosnia in the latter half of 1992 with the aim of helping their Muslim co-religionists in fights against Serb and Croat forces. Initially they mainly came from Arab countries, later from other Muslim-majority countries. Estimates of their numbers vary from 500 to 5,000 with most estimates in the 1,000–2,000 range.
The Republic formed in 1992 as a multi-ethnic nation, mostly of Bosniaks, Bosnian Serbs, and Bosnian Croats. ethnic nationalists in the latter two groups founded a pair of unrecognised breakaway states within the Republic's borders: Republika Srpska ("Serbian Republic"), and the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia. Bosniaks, the majority of whom are Muslims, started being killed in ethnic cleansing operations by the two militaries, the Army of Republika Srpska and the Croatian Defence Council.
In 1995, the Bosnian War ended with the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina's dissolution, and the formation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.