Minister of Defense to Bosnian CIA: Do cells of ISIL and Al-Qaeda exist in the Federation?

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Minister of Defense, Zukan Helez, has requested the Intelligence and Security Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (OSA – a Bosnian CIA) to inform him whether OSA possesses data regarding the existence of 120 paramilitary groups in the territory of the Republika Srpska entity, as well as the presence of Al-Qaeda and ISIL cells in the territory of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In his letter, Helez reminds that the Minister of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska, Siniša Karan, stated that the RS police control and closely monitor these paramilitary groups due to “potential extremism, terrorism, and extreme Wahhabi radicalism.”

Helez also recalls the statement made by the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, on November 29, 2023: “We are aware that paramilitary groups exist, and they are covered by the Islamic Community led by the Reis.”

“Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH Nebojša Radmanović, Deputy Chairman of the House of Peoples Nikola Špirić, President of the SNSD Parliamentary Club Sanja Vulić, President of the Serbian Club Čedomir Јovanović, and President of the Serbian People’s Club Sredoje Nović have sent a letter to the Senate and Congress of the United States, as well as to the members of the European Parliament, in which they state: ‘In the Federation of BiH, there are villages where residents adhere to Sharia law, and parts of BiH inhabited by Bosniaks are still home to numerous sleeper cells of Al-Qaeda and ISIL that could potentially be activated when and if orders arrive,’ ” Helez stated in the letter to OSA.

He emphasizes that he believes such statements by officials from Republika Srpska are not true and are made for political purposes, primarily to divert public attention from the “anti-Dayton and secessionist actions of the RS government.”

“I expect institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, primarily OSA and the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH, to act in accordance with the powers granted by the law. If it is determined that the claims are false, I expect the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH to open an investigation into who and why is causing unrest in the public in BiH,” Helez stated in the letter addressed to the Intelligence and Security Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.