Executive Summary
- Protests entered their sixth day in Sarajevo following a fatal tram crash on February 12.
- The accident resulted in the death of a 23-year-old student and severe injuries to others.
- Sarajevo Canton Prime Minister Nihad Uk and GRAS Director Senad Mujagić have resigned.
- Demonstrators are demanding judicial transparency and the removal of unsafe public transport vehicles.
SARAJEVO – Demonstrators gathered in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina for a sixth consecutive day on Wednesday, demanding accountability following a fatal tram accident that claimed the life of a university student and critically injured several others. The sustained public outcry has precipitated significant political consequences, leading to the resignation of high-ranking officials, including the Prime Minister of the Sarajevo Canton.
The incident occurred on February 12 when a tram derailed and collided with a station, reportedly due to excessive speed. Authorities identified the fatality as Erdoan Morankić, a 23-year-old art student. Among the injured was Ela Jovanović, a high school student who required a leg amputation as a result of the crash. The tragedy has sparked widespread anger regarding the safety standards of the city’s public transportation system.
In response to the escalating protests, Sarajevo Canton Prime Minister Nihad Uk announced his resignation on February 15. In his resignation letter, Uk emphasized the weight of the public sentiment. "The message from my fellow citizens, the message from young people, is important to me – certainly more important than my position," Uk stated, adding that choosing between the "voice and courage of young people" and his office was a clear decision. Following his departure, the cantonal government has shifted to a "technical mandate," restricting it to routine operations without the authority to make major strategic decisions.
Senad Mujagić, the Director of Sarajevo’s public transport company (GRAS), also tendered his resignation on February 16. Despite stepping down, Mujagić defended the operational integrity of the utility in a public address, asserting that the tram involved in the collision was "technically sound." Conversely, protesters massed outside the National Museum and the Cantonal Government building have demanded the immediate withdrawal of antiquated vehicles and systemic accountability for GRAS management.
Tensions remained high during Wednesday’s gathering, with participants alleging that educators were locking students inside schools to prevent them from joining the demonstrations. The Ministry of Education formally denied these claims. Meanwhile, the Sarajevo Canton Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that a multi-faceted investigation is underway, with a specific focus on the technical mechanics of the tram involved.
Investigative Outlook and Governance
The resignations of top-level officials signal a significant pivot in the administrative response to public safety failures in the region. While the immediate political fallout has occurred, the focus now shifts to the technical and judicial phases of the inquiry. The investigation by the Sarajevo Canton Prosecutor’s Office will likely center on forensic engineering reports to determine whether the derailment was caused by mechanical failure, operator error, or systemic negligence regarding infrastructure maintenance. The outcome of this probe will determine if the accountability extends beyond political resignations to potential criminal negligence charges.
It is important to note that the investigation is ongoing, and all individuals and entities involved are presumed innocent regarding criminal liability until proven guilty in a court of law.
