Srebrenica

Srebrenica, town in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, south-eastern Europe. It is situated 72 km (45 mi) north-east of Sarajevo, the capital city, and about 68 km (42 mi) south-east of Tuzla. The site was originally settled by Illyrians (see Illyria) and the town gained importance during Roman times as a centre for lead- and silver-mining; the town’s name means “silver mine”. Sites dating from the Roman period have been found in the area, including municipal buildings, baths, a cemetery, and traces of mine workings. The first written mention of the town was made in the 14th century and by the 15th century it had become a centre of trade. During the Middle Ages, Srebrenica was ruled by many different powers until it became part of the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the 16th century; it remained under Turkish control for almost 400 years.

During the Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian War, Srebrenica was declared a Muslim enclave and designated one of the six safe havens by the United Nations (UN), but the town was overrun by Bosnian Serbs in July 1995. Evidence of extreme brutality, deportations, and mass murder perpetrated against the civilian population during the Serb occupation has been recounted to the International War Crimes Tribunal at The Hague. An estimated 7,000 Muslim men from the town and the surrounding region are thought to have been massacred and buried in mass graves near Srebrenica.

Prior to the start of civil war Srebrenica had a thriving metal factory and lead, silver, and gold mines. There is also a spa with natural mineral waters containing iron and arsenic, with a constant water temperature of 12° C (54° F). Population 37,211 (1991).