Bosnia and Herzegovina held a referendum on independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which reflected the growing nationalist movements within the region during the early 1990s. On March 1, 1992, approximately 99.7% of voters supported the declaration of independence, though the participation was controversial, particularly among the Serb population who largely boycotted the vote. The Bosniak and Croat populations overwhelmingly favored independence, which was viewed as a crucial step towards the establishment of a sovereign state. Following the successful referendum, Bosnia and Herzegovina's leadership, including figures like Alija Izetbegović, took decisive steps to declare independence and sought recognition from international bodies. The international community, amidst rising tensions in the Balkans, later acknowledged their sovereign status, but this led to violent reactions from the Serb factions, ultimately resulting in the Bosnian War. The conflicts that ensued had devastating humanitarian impacts and reshaped the political landscape of the former Yugoslavia. The path to independence was fraught with political challenges and ethnic divisions that would manifest in years of conflict.