Kosovo: Why is ethnic Serb and Albanian violence on the rise?
Between ethnic Serb militants and police working for the Albanian-led government, a violent fight has occurred in Kosovo.
The biggest escalation of violence in years resulted in the deaths of one police officer and three gunmen.
Who lives in Kosovo and where is it located?
Kosovo is a tiny, landlocked nation in southern-eastern Europe's Balkans. Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Albania are its neighbors.
It is regarded as the birthplace of the Serb people by many.
However, 92% of the 1.8 million people that call Kosovo home are Albanian, whereas only 6% are Serbian. Bosniaks, Gorans, Turks, and Roma make up the remainder.
How did Kosovo become an independent nation?
Kosovo, a former Yugoslavia province, sought independence after the dissolution of the state in the 1990s.
In retaliation, Serbia launched a harsh crackdown on ethnic Albanians.
This was resolved in 1999 when NATO bombed Serbia between March and June.
Although Serbian soldiers left Kosovo, the conflict hasn't been settled for many Kosovo Albanians and Serbs.
The approximately 4,500-strong NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFor) is still based in Kosovo.
Kosovo unilaterally proclaimed its independence in 2008.
99 of the 193 UN members currently recognize Kosovo's independence, including the US, the UK, and 22 of the 27 members of the European Union (EU).
But the UN membership of Kosovo has been obstructed by Russia and China, who do not.
Aleksandar Vucic, the president of Serbia, has also sworn that Serbia will never recognize Kosovo's independence.
Serbia and Kosovo are not members of the EU, but
Serbia has been a prospective member of the EU since 2012.
Kosovo submitted a formal application to the EU in December 2022.
The procedure to join the EU can take decades.
Why has there been trouble now?
The administration, which is dominated by Albanians, and the Serb minority have long-standing tense relations.
When ethnic Serb gunmen invaded a town in northern Kosovo, they barricaded themselves inside a Serbian Orthodox monastery, sparking the most recent conflict.
Kosovo monastery siege ends following fierce gunfights
The Kosovo government's initiative to exert control over the entire country of Kosovo is at the root of the violence.
The ethnic Serbs are against it and would like more autonomy.
A restriction on Serbian-issued license plates resulted in the resignation of Serb legislators in the country's north in 2022.
Local elections were held in April 2023 as a result of the resignation, but the majority of Serbs abstained.
On a turnout of fewer than 4%, four mayors of ethnic Albanian descent were chosen. Armed Kosovo police installed the mayors, sparking bloody battles with the local Serb population.
After several of its peacekeeping forces were hurt during the fighting, NATO sent 700 more troops to the nation.
Which party is at fault for the violence?
Albin Kurti, the prime minister of Kosovo, charged that the government of Serbia supported the shooters who were part in the most recent fighting.
Aleksandar Vucic, the president of Serbia, asserted that Kosovo leaders were ultimately accountable.
The EU had been acting as a mediator, but the negotiations broke down.
Josep Borrell, the head of the EU's foreign policy, accused Mr. Kurti of neglecting to take action to increase the autonomy of the Serbs.
Donika Gervalla-Schwarz, the foreign minister of Kosovo, criticized Mr. Borrell's remarks for failing to support the police or refer to the attacks as "terrorists"
