Bosnian Serbs declare German minister persona non grata after sanctions

The government of Bosnia's autonomous Serb Republic declared a senior German foreign ministry official persona non grata on Friday and barred her from visiting the region in retaliation for German sanctions against the Bosnian Serb separatist leadership.

Anna Luehrmann, who is in charge of Europe and climate at Germany's foreign ministry, said on Thursday that Germany and Austria would bar Milorad Dodik and his two closest aides from their territories, accusing the president of Bosnia's autonomous Serb Republic (RS) of threatening the security of Bosnia and the region.

Luehrmann made the announcement in a joint statement with Austria Foreign Minister Beate Meinl Reisinger during a visit to the Bosnian capital Sarajevo.

Dodik has triggered a constitutional crisis by defying rulings by the international envoy whose role is to prevent the multi-ethnic Balkan state from slipping back into conflict.

That has escalated into a legal and political standoff pitting Dodik and his allies Russia and Serbia against the United States and the EU, a situation that is seen as one of the biggest threats to peace in the Balkans since conflicts in the region in the 1990s.

After meeting state officials in Sarajevo, Luehrmann was on her way to the Serb Republic's main city of Banja Luka to meet the Serb opposition leaders. But the meeting was cancelled after the regional government declared her unwelcome.

"Like any unwelcome visitor, German Minister Anna Luehrmann sneaked into Banja Luka to meet her minions in the basement," Dodik posted on his X profile. "I expect that the RS police will soon escort her out of Republika Srpska forever."

A German foreign ministry official said Dodik lacks the legal authorisation to make a persona non grata declaration.

Luehrmann said on X that Dodik's representatives threatened her and her delegation with violence after she had held a number of meetings with civil society and opposition representatives.

"This is a sign of weakness. Dodik is increasingly isolated & lacks the support of the citizens of Republika Srpska," she added.