Elmedin Konaković

Elmedin Konaković
Konaković in 2025
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Incumbent
Assumed office
25 January 2023
Prime MinisterBorjana Krišto
Preceded byBisera Turković
Premier of Sarajevo Canton
In office
23 March 2015 – 4 April 2018
Preceded byMuhamed Kozadra
Succeeded byAdem Zolj
Parliamentary offices
Member of the Federal House of Representatives
In office
1 December 2022 – 25 January 2023
Member of the Federal House of Peoples
In office
1 July 2019 – 1 December 2022
Personal details
Born (1974-09-03) 3 September 1974
Sarajevo, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia
NationalityBosnian
PartyPeople and Justice (2018–present)
Other political
affiliations		Party of Democratic Action (2004–2018)
Spouses
Martina Saira Keškić
​
​
(m. 2011; div. 2014)​
Dalija Hasanbegović
​
(m. 2016)​
Children2
Alma materUniversity of Sarajevo (BSSM, MSSM)

Elmedin "Dino" Konaković (born 3 September 1974) is a Bosnian politician serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs since January 2023. He is the founder and president of the People and Justice (NiP) party since 2018, and was previously a member of the Federal House of Representatives from 2022 to 2023. Konaković was also a member of the Federal House of Peoples from 2019 to 2022.

Born in Sarajevo in 1974, Konaković was part of Bosnian Army during the Bosnian War. After the war, he went on to pursue a professional career in basketball, playing for prominent club KK Bosna, among others. Konaković graduated in sport management at the University of Sarajevo and later worked in sport management after retiring. He entered into politics in the early 2000s as a member of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA), slowly rising through its ranks before serving as a member of the Sarajevo Canton Assembly from 2010 to 2014. Following the 2014 general election, he became Premier of Sarajevo Canton, serving from March 2015 until April 2018.

In February 2018, Konaković left the SDA. Subsequently, he formed NiP and was consequently ousted as premier. He was elected to the Sarajevo Canton Assembly in 2018 general election, and also became a member of the Federal House of Peoples. In the 2022 general election, Konaković was elected to the Federal House of Representatives. However, after the formation of a new national coalition, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Fourteenth Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Early life and education

Konaković was born in Sarajevo, SFR Yugoslavia, present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1974. He graduated from Electrical Engineering secondary School and, after the Bosnian War, from the Faculty of Sports and Physical Education of the University of Sarajevo.

Early career

During the Bosnian War from 1992 to 1995, Konaković joined the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (10th Mountain Brigade and 15th Motorized Brigade) and played in Sarajevo's famous basketball club, former European champion KK Bosna.[1] He continued his career in the late 1990s in Slovenia, Hungary and Romania. In 2002, Konaković became director of the Bosnia and Herzegovina men's national basketball team, and in 2003 director of KK Bosna, a position he held until 2007.[2]

Political career

Konaković joined the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) in 2004, and was elected to the local council of the Centar municipality in the capital Sarajevo. In the 2008 municipal elections, he unsuccessfully ran for municipal mayor of Centar. He was elected to the Sarajevo Canton Assembly in the 2010 general election and became chair of the SDA MPs caucus.

On 23 March 2015, Konaković was appointed Premier of Sarajevo Canton.[1] He was removed from the post in April 2018, after he had decided to leave the SDA, disappointed with the party's policies.[3] Konaković then set up his own party, People and Justice (NiP), and was then elected speaker of the Sarajevo Canton Assembly after the 2018 general election, serving until January 2020.[4][5] Meanwhile, in July 2019, he was appointed to the Federal House of Peoples.[2]

Konaković has described NiP as a centrist party advocating for transparency, efficiency, and institutional reform.[6][7] In the 2020 municipal elections, NiP significantly increased its share of votes in Sarajevo, becoming the largest political party in the city.[8] The 2024 municipal elections saw NiP suffer noticeable losses in Sarajevo, losing municipal councilors in all four of the city's municipalities.[9] Commenting on the results, Konaković said that NiP was "the loser in Sarajevo" and that it was a "well-deserved slap in the face."[10]

Minister of Foreign Affairs (2023–present)

Appointment

See also: Cabinet of Borjana Krišto

On 25 January 2023, following the formation of a new Council of Ministers presided over by Borjana Krišto, Konaković was appointed as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs within Krišto's government.[11]

Tenure

On 13 February 2023, Konaković spoke in a telephone call with United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken, expressing his gratitude for the United States' "commitment to peace, security and stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina."[12] He attended the 59th Munich Security Conference from 17 to 19 February, during which he met with a number of foreign officials from Spain, Sweden, Austria, France and the United Kingdom.[13]

In May 2023, Konaković announced that a draft on the law regarding the foreign affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina was adopted unanimously at a Council of Ministers session.[14] He would later say that the session was the "most productive one this Council ever had."[15] On 13 June 2023, Konaković met with British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly during an official visit to the United Kingdom.[16] They discussed bilateral relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United Kingdom, Euro-Atlantic integration, regional relations and global security issues.[17]

In January 2024, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrote a letter to Konaković, urging him to "press Croatian Democratic Union leader Dragan Čović to end his obstruction on the realization of the Southern Interconnection natural gas pipeline project between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina."[18] In May 2025, Konaković met with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy during the latter's state visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.[19]

In February 2025, a motion for Konaković's dismissal was brought by the SDA and the Democratic Front, citing allegations that he is "linked to organised crime and is causing harm to the country's reputation through his actions." Ultimately, the motion failed to achieve a majority in the national House of Representatives, with 15 members voting in favour and 18 against Konaković's removal.[20]

Gaza war

Main article: Gaza war

Following a large escalation of the Gaza–Israel conflict in October 2023, Konaković condemned Hamas' attacks, but also said that "he never hid his support for the people and the government of Palestine in order to keep and protect the areas they live in, to fight for sovereignty and territorial integrity of their land and protect their religious objects on that area that are of great importance for the faithful from all around the world."[21]

In June 2025, at the 51st Organisation of Islamic Cooperation summit of foreign ministers in Istanbul, Konaković condemned the violence in Gaza and drew parallels to Bosnia and Herzegovina's own experience, stressing the importance of accountability and constitutional order ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide.[22]

Relations with the European Union

See also: Accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the European Union

After a meeting with the foreign ministers of Italy and Austria on 4 March 2024, Konaković announced that the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina was likely to discuss the Law on the Prevention of Conflict of Interests, one of the main accession-priority reforms set by the European Commission. He noted economic benefits tied to EU support and stressed full alignment with EU foreign policy.[23] On 21 March, at a summit in Brussels, all 27 EU leaders, representing the European Council, unanimously agreed to open EU accession talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina after the Council of Ministers adopted the law on the prevention of conflict of interests and the law on anti-money laundering and countering terrorist financing among other things.[24][25] Talks are set to begin following the impeding of more reforms.[25][26]

In May 2025, Konaković addressed the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers at its 134th session in Luxembourg, emphasising the importance of human rights, the rule of law, and the implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights for Bosnia and Herzegovina's European integration path.[27]

Konaković has frequently reaffirmed Bosnia and Herzegovina's support for the European Union's foreign policy and sanctions framework. In November 2025, he stated that the country "fully supports the EU's sanctions policy on Russia and Belarus", while acknowledging that implementation remains blocked by internal vetoes from Republika Srpska, the Serb-majority entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina.[28] Some months before, he urged more EU member states to impose sanctions on Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, following Austria and Germany’s entry bans.[29]

Controversies

In April 2024, Bosnian authorities launched Operation "Black Tie 2", targeting a transnational drug trafficking and money laundering network allegedly led by Edin "Tito" Gačanin, described by U.S. officials as "one of the world’s most prolific drug lords".[30] Among those arrested in the operation was Dženis Kadrić, a former officer of the Federal Police Administration in Sarajevo, identified as one of Gačanin’s bodyguards. Passport data belonging to Konaković and his family were found on Kadrić’s confiscated devices. Investigators' transcripts indicated that Kadrić sent a note with the passport numbers of Konaković and his daughter.[31]

Further messages referred to Konaković’s party, People and Justice (NiP). The cartel allegedly proposed direct cooperation with the party leadership; if rejected, they discussed forming a rival party to strengthen political influence in Bosnia and Herzegovina.[31] By July 2025, the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina ordered the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) to conduct a detailed financial investigation of NiP as part of the broader "Black Tie" case. SIPA confirmed it was investigating whether NiP received funds originating from Gačanin’s cartel.[30]

Personal life

Konaković has been married to Al Jazeera Balkans journalist Dalija Hasanbegović since 2016, and together they have two daughters, Kiana Aja and Kaira Nur.[32] He was previously married with models Aida Osmanović and then with Martina Saira Keškić, divorcing the latter in 2014.[1]

Besides his native Bosnian, Konaković speaks English fluently and is conversant in Italian and Romanian.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Ko je Elmedin Dino Konaković, novi premijer Kantona Sarajevo? at depo.ba
  2. ^ a b c Elmedin Konaković at imovinapoliticara.cin.ba
  3. ^ "Konaković potvrdio da napušta SDA: Ne želim braniti one čiji sam kriminal dokazao" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  4. ^ PORTAL, Oslobođenje (12 March 2018). "Elmedin Konaković osnovao stranku Narod i pravda". www.oslobodjenje.ba (in Bosnian). Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  5. ^ izbori.ba – 2018 – SC
  6. ^ A.B. (12 March 2018). "Konaković osnovao stranku "Narod i pravda"" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  7. ^ "Trojka iz BiH nije optimistična oko Izbornog zakona". tportal.hr (in Croatian). 17 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  8. ^ "NiP izdominirao u Sarajevu, SDA uzdrmana, Naša stranka u blagom padu dok SBB i DF polako "nestaju"". Klix.ba (in Bosnian). Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  9. ^ N.Ž. (7 October 2024). "Kako će izgledati općinska vijeća u Kantonu Sarajevo? Ozbiljan pad za NiP, SBiH relativni pobjednik" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  10. ^ "Konaković: NiP je gubitnik u Sarajevu i to nam je šamar". smartinfo.ba (in Bosnian). 9 October 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  11. ^ N.V. (25 January 2023). "BiH dobila novo Vijeće ministara, državnu vlast sada čini SNSD, HDZ, SDP, NiP, NS, DNS..." (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  12. ^ "Razgovarali Elmedin Konaković i Antony Blinken: Evo šta je rečeno na sastanku" (in Bosnian). Radio Sarajevo. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  13. ^ V.K. (20 February 2023). "Konaković: Zbog toga što jedna stranka nije u vlasti neki bi da nas okrenu prema Putinu" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  14. ^ "Konaković: Vijeće ministara BiH usvojilo Nacrt zakona o vanjskim poslovima BiH". startbih.ba (in Bosnian). 11 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  15. ^ "Konaković: Ovo je bila najproduktivnija sjednica u historiji Vijeća ministara" (in Bosnian). N1. 11 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  16. ^ "Ministar Konaković sastao se sa državnim sekretarom za vanjske poslove Džejmsom Kleverlijem" (in Bosnian). Dnevni avaz. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  17. ^ "Konakovic-Cleverly: UK remains committed to Providing Support to BiH". Sarajevo Times. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  18. ^ F.H. (17 January 2024). "Blinken pisao Konakoviću: "Izvršite pritisak na Čovića da prestane s opstrukcijama za Južnu interkonekciju"" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  19. ^ Marko Aždajić (6 May 2025). "Britanski šef diplomatije Dejvid Lemi sastao se s Elmedinom Konakovićem" (in Bosnian). Dnevni avaz. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  20. ^ "BiH: Konakovic survives another dismissal attempt, political crisis continues". N1 Info. 20 February 2025. Retrieved 20 February 2025.
  21. ^ "Konaković o Gazi: Nikada nisam krio podršku narodu i vlastima Palestine, dvije države su jedino rješenje". Klix.ba (in Bosnian). Sarajevo. 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  22. ^ "Ministry of Foreign Affairs Newsletter: June 2025" (PDF). mvp.gov.ba. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  23. ^ "Konaković nakon sastanka s EU diplomatama: "BiH je sto posto usklađena s vanjskom politikom EU"" (in Bosnian). Radio Sarajevo. 4 March 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  24. ^ Petrequin, Samuel (21 March 2024). "EU leaders agree on opening membership talks with Bosnia, but with many strings attached". Associated Press. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  25. ^ a b Jones, Mared Gwyn (21 March 2024). "European Union leaders approve opening accession talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina". EuroNews. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  26. ^ Noestlinger, Nette; Sito-sucic, Daria; Gray, Andrew (21 March 2024). "EU leaders invite Bosnia to membership talks in historic step". Reuters. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  27. ^ "Ministry of Foreign Affairs Newsletter: May 2025" (PDF). mvp.gov.ba. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  28. ^ "BiH podržala sankcije Rusiji, ali ih ne usvaja zbog veta". N1 Info (in Bosnian). 5 November 2025. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  29. ^ "Bosnia urges wider EU sanctions on leader of Bosnia's Republika Srpska after entry bans by Austria, Germany". Anadolu Agency. 4 April 2025. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  30. ^ a b "N1 learns SIPA probes alleged financing of NiP party in Bosnia". N1 Info. 15 July 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  31. ^ a b "Iz SIPA-e za "Avaz": Dobili smo naredbu da provjerimo finansiranje stranke Narod i Pravda" (in Bosnian). Dnevni avaz. 15 July 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  32. ^ BiH, N1 (21 July 2023). "Prva fotografija i ime novog člana porodice Elmedina i Dalije Konaković". N1 (in Bosnian). Retrieved 20 March 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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