Name of leader Fikret Abdic
Organization Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia
Conflict country Bosnia
Gender Male
Year of birth 1939[1]
Place of birth Donja Vidovska, Bosnia[2]
Year of death N/A
Deceased
No, there is no evidence he has died.
Birth order
He is the third of twelve children of Hashim and Zlata Abdic.[3]
Age at start of rebel leadership
It appears the group started in 1993, so he would have been 54.[4]
Leader entry method
He founded the organization by making an agreement with the Bosnian Croats, Serbia's leader, and the head of the Bosnia's Serbs.[5]
Powersharing
No, there is no evidence of powersharing.[6]
Education (also name universities attended, if any); note any relevant experiences while a student
“He finished elementary school in Donja Vidovska, secondary agricultural school in Derventa, higher agricultural school in Križevci and agricultural faculty in Sarajevo. Upon completion of high school, with 21 years, 01.06.1960.”[7] There is no evidence of education in the West.
Ever married? If yes, age of first marriage
There is no evidence he is married.
Children
There is no evidence he has children.
Religious identification
He is Muslim.[8]
Elite family background
No elite family background is mentioned anywhere, and the fact that “he made a name for himself”[9] implies that his parents were not elites.
Political affiliations and intellectual circles; note any relevant social connections made
Yes, “[i]n September 1960, he was elected Secretary of the Municipal Committee of People's Youth Velika Kladusa, and seven months later, he was elected President of the Youth. After a year, he was elected organizing secretary of the Municipal Committee of the League of Communists of Velika Kladusa. With less than 24 years, 10.04.1963. In the same year, he became a People's Deputy in the Assembly of BiH, the youngest in Yugoslavia...Since 1964, he was Vice President of the Municipality of Velika Kladusa, where he remained appointed for many years. He volunteered for one year as Secretary of the Committee. From the age of 34, he was elected a member of the Central Committee of BiH (Central Committee of BiH), the highest body in the Republic of BiH, where he remained until the affair of Agrokomerc in 1987. In addition to his membership in the CK BiH, he was also a member of the BiH Parliament. This was the subject of a debate, because it was the only member of both bodies, but because of the work of life and achievements in the work, he had this privilege. At the beginning of 1986, he was elected to the Federal Assembly of Yugoslavia, the highest representative body in the former SFRY.”[10] In 1990 he became a member of the Party of Democratic Action and won the election to become the president of the organization; however, behind the scene politics led to Izetbegovic becoming president instead. Again in 1992, Abdic tried to run for president, but was ignored when Izetbegovic picked his own successor.[11]
Physical and mental health
No, there is no evidence of poor physical or mental health.
Pre-militant leader occupation
He became famous for turning an agricultural cooperative into a modern food combine.[12]
Experience in a state military, and role; any relevant social ties
No, there is no evidence of state military experience.
Experience in a nonstate military, and role; any relevant social ties
No, there is no evidence of nonstate military experience.
Combat experience prior to assuming resistance organization leadership?
No, there is no evidence of combat experience.
Held government position prior to assuming leadership?
Yes, as noted in the political affiliations section.
Lived in exile?
No, he fled to Croatia as the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia fell, which means he could no longer be its leader.[13]
Study abroad?
No, there is no evidence of study abroad.
Did the leader receive military training abroad?
No, there is no evidence of military training abroad.
Did the leader have extensive work experience abroad?
No, there is no evidence of extensive work experience abroad.
Serve time in prison? Social connections during that time?
Yes, he was imprisoned in Bosnia “for massive financial impropriety”[14] before he founded the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia and later (although does not count for variable) after the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia fell, he was imprisoned in Croatia for setting up the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia and for multiple deaths related to it.[15]
Was there an assassination attempt on the leader by the state?
No, there was no assassination attempt, although the Bosnian army did take out his Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia.
Cause of Death?
N/A
Primary language, and other languages spoken as adult
His primary language is likely Bosniak.[16][17] There is no evidence of English as a first or second language.
[1] Paul R. Bartrop, A Biographical Encyclopedia of Contemporary Genocide Portraits of Evil and Good (Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2012), 1.
[2] Ibid.
[3] “BIOGRAPHY OF FIKRET ABDIĆ,” Laburistibih, Accessed September 17, 2018, https://www.laburistibih.ba/ekskluzivno-biografija-fikreta-abdica/.
[4] See f.n.1
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.
[7] See f.n.3
[8] See f.n.1
[9] Ibid.
[10] See f.n.3
[11] See f.n.1
[12]Ibid.
[13] Ibid.
[14] Ibid.
[15] Ibid.
[16] Ibid.
[17]"Bosnian," Bosnian - Language Information & Resources, Accessed November 20, 2016, https://www.alsintl.com/resources/languages/Bosnian/.