Days after Kosovo had declared independence from Serbia back in February, both violent and peaceful protests followed after. There was much violence in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Protesters against Kosovo’s independence had stormed the United States embassy in Belgrade. The embassy was torched with an unidentified charred body being discovered.
The United Nations Security Council held two emergency meetings. The European Union (EU) was split on Kosovo’s independence. Most of the major member states of the EU recognized Kosovo’s independence. Russia cited concerns that it would send a message to various separatist groups.
Serbia had recalled all envoys from countries such as the United States that have recognized Kosovo’s independence.
Violent protests sparked throughout Bosnia-Herzegovina.
NATO had to seal off Kosovo’s northern border. It remains in Kosovo to provide security.
Recently, the K-For Force led by NATO and the UN police clashed with Serbian protesters. Both sides took heavy hits in the number of wounded. In the combined NATO and UN force, 63 were wounded as they were attacked by stones and petrol bombs. On the protesters side, there were at least 70 that were wounded.
The combined force also had to deal with hand grenades and gunfire. The clashes started when the UN forces tried to take control back of a courthouse that was taken over by Serbian protesters.
Despite the injuries, the K-For troops managed to gain control of the courthouse.
Coincidentally, this unrest is on the 4th anniversary of the rioting in Mitrovica by Albanians that live in Kosovo. Many Serbs were forced to leave their homes.
This is a clear sign that the incident in northern Mitrovica is a clear indication that the incident of Kosovo’s independence and the chaos that follows is far from being over. Kosovo could possibly be a hot topic in the coming general election debates in regards to foreign policy.