Ethnic Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo: Understanding the Escalating Violence

In Kosovo, a violent clash erupted between ethnic Serb gunmen and police from the Albanian-led government, resulting in the death of one policeman and three gunmen. This incident marks the most severe escalation of violence in the country in recent years. Kosovo is a small landlocked nation located in southeastern Europe, bordered by Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia. Many Serbians consider Kosovo the birthplace of their nation. However, despite these sentiments, the majority of Kosovo's population consists of Albanians, accounting for 92%, while Serbians make up only 6%. The remaining population includes Bosniaks, Gorans, Turks, and Roma. The conflict in Kosovo traces back to the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s when Kosovo, as a province of Yugoslavia, sought independence. In response, Serbia brutally cracked down on ethnic Albanians. A NATO bombing campaign against Serbia in 1999 eventually led to the withdrawal of Serbian forces from Kosovo. Nonetheless, unresolved tensions persist among Kosovo Albanians and Serbs. The NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) maintains a presence in the region with approximately 4,500 troops. Kosovo unilaterally declared independence in 2008, receiving recognition from 99 out of 193 United Nations countries, including the US, the UK, and 22 out of 27 European Union members. However, Russia and China, among others, have prevented Kosovo from becoming a UN member. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has made it clear that Serbia will never recognize Kosovo as an independent state. Neither Kosovo nor Serbia are part of the EU, and the process of EU membership can be lengthy. Tensions between the Albanian-dominated government and the Serb minority have strained relationships within Kosovo for years. The recent clash erupted when ethnic Serb gunmen attacked a village, taking refuge in a Serbian Orthodox monastery. At the core of the violence lies the Kosovo government's policy to assert its authority over the entire region, a position opposed by ethnic Serbs who seek greater autonomy. In 2022, Serb representatives in the northern part of the country resigned in protest against a ban on Serbian-issued number plates. Subsequently, local elections were held in April 2023 but were boycotted by the majority of the Serb population. As a result, four ethnic Albanian mayors took office, causing violent clashes between armed Kosovo police and local Serbs. NATO deployed an additional 700 troops after some of its peacekeeping soldiers were injured in the clashes. Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti accused Serbia's government of supporting the gunmen involved in the recent clashes. Conversely, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic claimed that Kosovo officials bear ultimate responsibility. Mediation efforts by the EU between the two sides had been ongoing but collapsed. The EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, held Mr. Kurti responsible for failing to take measures to provide greater autonomy to Serbs. In response, Kosovo's foreign minister, Donika Gervalla-Schwarz, criticized Mr. Borrell for not expressing support for the police and for failing to label the attackers as "terrorists."