A crowd of more than 6,500 people gathered at dawn on Wednesday in Bosnia and Herzegovina to embark on a three-day peace march. The event, now in its 22nd year, serves as a tribute to the victims of the Srebrenica genocide and honors those who attempted to flee for their lives during the tragic events of July 1995.
Participants have traveled from across the country and abroad to join the 100-kilometre journey. For many, the march is a way to connect with the history of the conflict. Ibis Husejnovic, one of the participants, stated he joined to “feel the pain, to feel the silence.” Another marcher, Raifa Duzic, expressed that she wanted to experience a small portion of what those fleeing for their lives felt, adding, “And I want us to say that this should never be forgotten.”
The route is designed to pass by significant locations, including sites where mass executions occurred and areas where mass graves were later discovered. The marchers are scheduled to arrive in Potocari, near Srebrenica, on July 10, just ahead of the official genocide commemorations.
In July 1995, the Bosnian Serb army seized Srebrenica, leading to the brutal murder of more than 8,000 men and teenagers. During the same period, approximately 25,000 women, children, and elderly Bosniak Muslims were forcibly relocated from the area.
