A SERIES OF BAD MOVES The Sarajevo Canton Government between silence and (ir)responsibility

By: Amra Vrabac

Whether the leaders of the "Trojka" parties admit it or not, after Nihad Uk's resignation, the relations between these three parties have been shaken. Perhaps not at other levels, but certainly in Sarajevo.

After the tragic tram accident in which 23-year-old student Erdoan Morankić lost his life, and 17-year-old Ella Jovanović was seriously injured, the Sarajevo Canton Government is in disarray. The first direct address to the public was only on Friday, February 13, and on the day of the accident, they issued a statement. The Government also created drama with the declaration of a day of mourning in the Sarajevo Canton. Only on Friday at 1:30 PM did they make the decision to declare Saturday, February 14, as the Day of Mourning in the Sarajevo Canton, and the first press conference was held at 3 PM. More than 24 hours after the accident.

And then on Sunday, a shock for the ministers as well, Nihad Uk submitted his resignation. The Minister of Transport of the Sarajevo Canton, Adnan Šteta, also felt the need to clarify something. He stated on FTV on February 16 that he had submitted his resignation to the Sarajevo Canton Government on the very day of the accident, but was prevented from doing so by both the Prime Minister and other ministers.

The resigned Prime Minister Nihad Uk confirmed on Face TV on Friday, February 20, that Šteta had offered his resignation, and told him, "wait, let's see how this will unfold."

And it unfolded into daily protests, demands for the dismissal of the Sarajevo Canton Government, and the uncovering of numerous omissions in the operations of GRAS. And as misfortune never comes alone, another accident occurs involving a tram and two cars. Checks revealed that the tram driver did not have a valid license to operate a tram, and it was determined that he was driving under the influence of psychoactive substances. Silence from the Sarajevo Canton Government, as well as the relevant Ministry of Transport, regarding this information. GRAS claims ignorance regarding crisis communication, stating that every driver must take care of their own license. As if they were driving a private vehicle, not a tram owned by the Ministry of Transport of the Sarajevo Canton.

The resignation submitted by the director of GRAS, Senad Mujagić, who was recently appointed director by the Sarajevo Canton Government, despite his acting director mandate being extended for several years, remained just words. Several days have passed since the resignation, and there is no information that Mujagić has been dismissed or that new management structures have been appointed.

One of the protesters' demands is also the introduction of control over GRAS's operations, and the inspection of the technical condition of public transport vehicles, especially older trams. The Government further confused matters with the statement that they had preemptively withdrawn older trams for inspection. If they claimed the vehicles were in good working order, why were all the old trams withdrawn?

Another scandal that revealed the extent of negligence in GRAS is the absence of footage from the camera inside the tram on the day of the accident, as the video surveillance was operational until November 29, 2025. This information caused additional shock, considering it could have revealed the behavior of driver Adnan Kasapović during the accident.

Given that the Sarajevo Canton Prosecutor's Office is conducting investigations in multiple directions, and that documentation is being seized from GRAS, the Ministry of Transport, and the company servicing the brakes, many have decided to remain silent for now. Because such an investigation cannot end with one suspect, considering the omissions that have surfaced. After all, it concerns public transport and the safety of citizens who use public transport daily.

Regardless of Uk's statement that he does not wish to remain in the position of Prime Minister in a technical mandate, at this moment, no one can claim what will happen at the session of the Sarajevo Canton Assembly, which will be held by March 10.

Minister Šteta stated on the program Plenum on Monday, February 16, that Uk cannot remain Prime Minister, and that a new majority will elect the Government. The opposition (SDA, DF, SBiH) is not interested in entering the Government seven months before the elections, and it will be difficult for "Trojka" to find 13 new people willing to hold office. And again, after all this, it makes no sense for Naša stranka, NIP, and SDP to elect a new Government again. But with this government, anything is possible, even the same government remaining until the end of this year.

What is particularly interesting is that the president of NIP, Elmedin Konaković, remained silent for days about both the accident and Nihad Uk's resignation. He spoke about it for the first time on February 19 in Banja Luka. And what young people think of him was shown at today's protests when they told him they were not interested in talking to him and refused a joint TV appearance.

If the reconstruction of the tram line and the procurement of new trams were the most successful story for the "Trojka" government, then at this moment, this is also their biggest test. How to overcome the problems in GRAS that have surfaced overnight, how to regain public trust, and how to believe that we are safe in public transport. And finally, how to believe that Nihad Uk's resignation is a conscious moral act, and not succumbing to pressure and fleeing responsibility.