Alija Izetbegović's 101st Birth Anniversary Honors Bosnia's Founder

Alija Izetbegović was born on 8 August 1925 in Bosanski Šamac, then part of Yugoslavia. After his family moved to Sarajevo, he studied law and became active in the Muslim youth movement. In the 1960s he authored the “Islamic Declaration,” and in 1989 he co‑founded the Party of Democratic Action (SDA).

Following Bosnia and Herzegovina’s declaration of independence in 1992, Izetbegović served as the first member and later the chairman of the collective Presidency. He led the country through the Bosnian War, participated in the negotiations that produced the Dayton Peace Accords in 1995, and remained in office until his resignation in 2000. He died on 19 October 2003 in Sarajevo.

The 101st anniversary of his birth is being marked across Bosnia and Herzegovina, recalling his role in the nation’s independence, wartime leadership, and post‑war reconciliation.