UN High Representative Christian Schmidt Announces Resignation After Five Years in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Christian Schmidt is resigning his post as UN high representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina. The German Christian Democrat politician spoke at a scheduled meeting with the UN Security Council in New York on Tuesday, where he warned about the fragility of the multi-ethnic state.

” The role of the UN high representative was established as part of the 1995 Dayton peace agreement that ended a three-year ethnic war in which more than 100,000 people were killed.

Since the end of the war in 1995, Bosnia and Herzegovina has consisted of two entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska. Schmidt has served as high representative for five years. His appointment has always been opposed by Russia and the largely autonomous Republika Srpska.

He has clashed with Milorad Dodik, a close ally of Vladimir Putin who attended the 9 May Moscow Victory Day parade. Schmidt disqualified Milorad Dodik from office for six months. The Republika Srpska national assembly voted to disregard the decisions of the Bosnian constitutional court.

U.S. sanctions but, in a reversal not coordinated with the EU, they were lifted. Milorad Dodik welcomed Schmidt’s resignation on Sunday. ” Schmidt said he will stay on until his successor is appointed.

5bn contract to build a pipeline from the Croatian coast into Bosnia. 1bn. AAFS Infrastructure and Energy was incorporated in November 2025.

It is fronted by Jesse Binnall and Joe Flynn. Jesse Binnall is Donald Trump’s personal lawyer. Joe Flynn is the brother of Michael Flynn. The AAFS contract was awarded without a tender after approval from the Bosnian parliament.

Donald Trump Jr visited Banja Luka in April 2026. Binnall has said the pipeline is a “priority” for the Trump administration. The Guardian reported that the contract has been criticised by the EU as possibly jeopardising Bosnia’s plan to join the bloc.