Fikret Abdić

Fikret Abdić
Born	(1939-09-29) September 29, 1939 Donja Vidovska, Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Other names	Babo
Occupation(s)	Politician, entrepreneur
Years active	1980s–present
Known for	Expansion of Agrokomerc, presidency in Bosnia, founding Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia

Fikret Abdić (born 29 September 1939), also referred to as Babo, is a Bosnian political figure and entrepreneur who rose to prominence in the 1980s by expanding the Velika Kladuša-based agricultural enterprise Agrokomerc into one of the largest business conglomerates within the former SFR Yugoslavia. He secured the popular vote during the 1990 Bosnian presidential elections.

In the early 1990s Bosnian War, Abdić opposed the official Bosnian government and founded the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia, a short-lived entity existing from 1993 to 1995, centered around Velika Kladuša. This self-declared region aligned itself with the Army of Republika Srpska.

In 2002, a Croatian court found him guilty of war crimes against Bosniaks loyal to the Bosnian government, sentencing him to 20 years imprisonment, which was later reduced to 15 years by Croatia’s Supreme Court. He was released in March 2012 after serving two-thirds of his term. In June 2020, Abdić was detained once more on allegations of abuse of office during his tenure as mayor but remained in office until November 2024, when Boris Horvat succeeded him.

Early life

Fikret Abdić was born on 29 September 1939 in the village of Donja Vidovska.

Early career

Following his agronomy studies, Abdić assumed leadership of the Agricultural Cooperative (Agrokomerc) located in Velika Kladuša. Under his guidance, the modest cooperative evolved into a modern food production conglomerate employing more than 13,000 individuals, significantly enhancing economic conditions and improving living standards in a previously underdeveloped area.

Agrokomerc developed into a regional industrial leader with widespread recognition throughout Yugoslavia, bolstered by effective marketing campaigns. Its mascot—a chef donning a tall white hat—became as iconic as Vučko or Zagi, the mascot for the 14th Summer Universiade. The company’s flagship product, Tops biscuits—modeled after Jaffa Cakes—nearly surpassed its well-known competitor within SR Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Locally, Abdić earned the nickname Babo (meaning Father). His management of Agrokomerc was strongly supported by prominent political figures such as Hamdija Pozderac and his brother Hakija, combining elements of socialist and capitalist methods.

In late 1987, amid political changes preceding Hamdija Pozderac's death and Raif Dizdarević's forthcoming Yugoslav Presidency, Abdić faced charges for "counter-revolutionary acts threatening the social order of SFRY" under Article 114 of the Criminal Code. He was imprisoned over alleged financial misconduct connected to what became known as the Agrokomerc Affair. This controversy affected not only the Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina but reverberated throughout all of Yugoslavia. Another notable contribution during this period was his construction of a monument honoring Ottoman Bosnian başbölükbaşı Mujo Hrnjica overlooking Velika Kladuša.

Presidency

Following the defeat of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia by nationalist parties in elections, Serbs in the Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina supported the Serb Democratic Party (SDS), while Croats backed the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). Bosnian Muslims rallied behind the Party of Democratic Action (SDA), led by Alija Izetbegović—a former prisoner and central figure in the 1983 Sarajevo process. Abdić, previously a member of the League of Communists, became part of SDA leadership. In the 1990 Presidency election, he received approximately 200,000 more votes than Izetbegović and was elected alongside him as a Muslim representative; Ejup Ganić was also elected representing minorities. Abdić emerged as a prominent competitor to Izetbegović within SDA and was considered a potential leader for the Presidency but withdrew after being marginalized by SDA hardliners, accepting a diminished position.

At the outbreak of war in Bosnia, Abdić briefly appeared in Sarajevo intending to assume presidency following Izetbegović’s arrest by the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA), but Izetbegović had already appointed Ejup Ganić to that role.

Abdić perceived Izetbegović’s vision as promoting a unitary state dominated by Bosnian Muslims and disapproved of his governing approach. Leaving Sarajevo in August 1992 amid intensifying conflict, Abdić observed firsthand both civilian suffering and governmental challenges. During Croat-Muslim hostilities in 1993, he strongly promoted negotiation as the sole means to halt violence, emphasizing fostering an environment conducive to dialogue. This position underscored his widening disagreement with Izetbegović regarding conflict resolution.

British diplomat Lord Owen characterized Abdić as "direct, self-assured and unlike Sarajevan Muslims," favoring compromise with Croats and Serbs while criticizing Muslims obstructing peace efforts.

Inter-Bosnian Muslim Conflict

Utilizing his broad commercial connections, Abdić ensured the continued delivery of consumer products such as cigarettes and coffee to the city despite the Serb siege. He retained considerable local backing.

By spring 1992, the Bihać enclave, spanning 15,500 km², was encircled by adversarial forces: the Republic of Serb Krajina to the north and west, and the Bosnian Serb Republika Srpska to the south and east. The local 5th Corps of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ARBiH) was poorly equipped. A French UNPROFOR battalion arrived in February 1993 but operated with limited mandate.

On 27 September 1993, Abdić proclaimed the creation of the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia centered in Velika Kladuša, functioning as a self-governing entity. The Bosnian Muslims in Bihać opposed this move and aligned themselves with Sarajevo. Abdić entered into agreements with Mate Boban of the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia and Radovan Karadžić of Republika Srpska, seeking to safeguard Western Bosnia’s inhabitants from ongoing hostilities. Several ARBiH brigades defected to Abdić’s side.

Abdić set up detention camps where prisoners loyal to the Bosnian government endured harsh mistreatment. The Serbian paramilitary group Scorpions also took part in these atrocities. The March 1994 Washington Agreement, which ended the Croat-Bosniak conflict, diminished Abdić’s influence.

During Operation Tiger '94, the ARBiH’s 5th Corps achieved a military victory over Western Bosnia. Nonetheless, Abdić rebuilt his forces with assistance from the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS), employing Serbian counterintelligence tactics against ARBiH supporters, ultimately restoring Western Bosnia during Operation Spider. This Serbian support reinforced his control.

On 1 August 1995, Abdić declared AP Western Bosnia a republic; however, it lasted only until 7 August 1995. The entity collapsed following combined military actions by ARBiH and the Croatian Army during Operation Storm. Subsequently, Abdić fled to Croatia.

Post-war Developments

After hostilities ended, Croatian President Franjo Tuđman granted Abdić political asylum and citizenship, with him residing near Rijeka. Bosnia and Herzegovina accused him of responsibility for the deaths of 121 civilians, three prisoners of war, and injuries to 400 civilians in Bihać, but Croatia declined to extradite him. Following Tuđman’s death in 1999 and a change in government in 2000, Croatian authorities arrested and prosecuted him. In 2002, he received a 20-year sentence for war crimes committed in the "Bihać pocket," which was later reduced to 15 years by Croatia’s Supreme Court in 2005. He was released in March 2012 after serving ten years and welcomed by thousands from Velika Kladuša.

In 2002, Abdić ran for the Bosniak seat in the Bosnian presidency representing the Democratic People's Community party, obtaining 4.1% of votes. Bosnian legislation permitted his candidacy since his conviction occurred in Croatia.

During the 2016 Bosnian municipal elections, Abdić was elected mayor of Velika Kladuša with a 48.10% vote share. In June 2020, Bosnia's federal police detained him amid an investigation into corruption involving municipal officials. Although held initially in pre-trial custody, he was released to participate in his November 2020 re-election campaign, which he narrowly won with 44.1%. In March 2021, prosecutors formally charged Abdić along with six municipal officials on corruption allegations connected to procurement contracts.

See also

• Elvira Abdić-Jelenović

External links

• Aubrey Verboven's publication Border Crossings - An Aid Worker's Journey into Bosnia provides an in-depth narrative of experiences in Velika Kladuša and the Batnoga refugee camp during 1994–95. It captures the circumstances faced by concentration camp detainees and the involvement of Serbian paramilitary forces active at that time.