Tensions are rising between Serbia and Kosovo again. Here’s what to know
Global News
On Tuesday, NATO announced it will be sending 700 additional troops to northern Kosovo a day after over 30 were injured due to protests in the region.
Tensions between Kosovo and Serbia have flared up in recent days, reigniting a conflict in the region.
On Tuesday, NATO announced it will be sending 700 additional troops to northern Kosovo a day after over 30 were injured due to protests in the region.
The conflict between the two countries is deep-rooted. But what is driving the recent flare in tensions? Here’s what to know.
The recent tensions were sparked due to an election held in late April.
Serbs, who make up a large portion of the population in northern Kosovo, boycotted the election due to a deep-seated mistrust of the Kosovo government, according to Ilva Tare, a senior fellow with the think tank Atlantic Council, who specializes in the Balkans.
Tare explained that the turnout from the election was only around three per cent due to the boycott, but it has been recognized by the international community, including the U.S.
Kosovo’s prime minister, Albin Kurti, tried to move forward from the election and have the newly elected mayors, who are Albanian, work from municipal offices, but that move has proven to be the straw that broke the camel’s back, causing the recent violence.
“(Serbs) don’t believe they are respected enough and basically don’t feel safe in their homes in northern Kosovo,” Tare said.