MLI in Bosnia & Herzegovina
- MLI Staff
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
More than three decades after the conflict that shook Bosnia & Herzegovina (BiH) from 1992 to 1995, the country still faces the hidden dangers of landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO). These remnants of war continue to block safe movement, slow development, and threaten families across the region. Bosnia & Herzegovina remains one of Europe’s most mine-affected countries, with large areas suspected of contamination and thousands of casualties recorded over the years.
In 2004, the Marshall Legacy Institute (MLI) committed to assisting Bosnia & Herzegovina with the extensive landmine contamination, an effort championed by our late founder, General Gordon R. Sullivan, 32nd Chief of Staff of the United States Army. This commitment proudly continues 21 years later, thanks to the generosity of donors across the United States who share our desire to help BiH become a safer place free from the threat of landmines. Our work has centered on three areas: the provision of Mine Detection Dogs, assistance to landmine survivors, and youth education through CHAMPS. Below, we explore how our work has shaped safer communities and empowered survivors and youth.
Mine Detection Dogs: Sniffing out Mines and Saving Lives
At the heart of MLI’s work in BiH has been the Mine Detection Dog program, donating highly trained hero dogs to find mines and transform dangerous land into safe, usable spaces for communities. Working alongside their human handlers and local clearance teams, MDDs save lives: locating hidden explosives with speed, accuracy, and unwavering focus.
Since 2004, MLI has donated nearly 50 Mine Detection Dogs, generously sponsored by private, caring Americans, to accelerate land clearance and reduce risk for both deminers and civilians. An incredible 15 of these MDDs have been sponsored by American schoolchildren! To date, these hero dogs have sniffed out more than 3.5 million square meters of land, benefitting over 4,000 men, women and children throughout BiH. Through collaboration with our long-term partner the Mine Detection Dog Center in Bosnia and Herzegovina (MDDC) and local demining organizations, MLI is proud to contribute to long-term demining capacity, helping ensure BiH's path toward a safer, mine-free future.
Mine Free Sarajevo
MLI was honored to participate in the Mine Free Sarajevo project, funded by the U.S. Department of State and implemented in partnership with ITF Enhancing Human Security and the Mine Detection Dog Center in Bosnia and Herzegovina (MDDC).
Launched on April 4, 2019, International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, the project aimed to release mine-contaminated land in the capital city of Sarajevo and surrounding municipalities, helping communities live and move without fear.
At project completion, more than 6 million square meters were released and 841 landmines and UXO located and destroyed, marking a major step toward safer land use for housing, agriculture, infrastructure, and tourism. MLI has been proud to serve as partner in other demining projects in BiH over the years, in Olovo, Maglaj and other communities in need of assistance.
Supporting Survivors: Healing Beyond Minefields
Bosnia’s recovery is not just measured in square meters cleared, it’s measured in human lives rebuilt.
Selma Gušo was just a child when she stepped on a mine near Sarajevo, and she later became an advocate and educator, embodying recovery and resilience.
Through CHAMPS-connected survivor support to include prosthetic limbs, liners and other costly mobility devices, survivors like Selma have been supported in rebuilding active, independent lives, moving forward with confidence, opportunity, and renewed hope.
2025 Survivor of the Year: Mirzet Duran
At just six years old, Mirzet Duran was injured by a landmine in Sarajevo, losing his left foot. After a difficult recovery, he found strength through sport and joined the Sarajevo sitting volleyball club Fantomi, which he soon came to call his second family.
Today, Mirzet is captain of the Bosnia and Herzegovina National Sitting Volleyball team and one of the sport’s most accomplished players, earning multiple European and world championship titles and five Paralympic medals, including silver at the 2024 Paris Games.
Mirzet also received medical support through MLI’s Children Against Mines Program (CHAMPS), which helped provide the prosthetic care that supported his active life and athletic career. Now a university graduate, telecom professional, father of two, and 2025 MLI Landmine Survivor Honoree, Mirzet’s journey, from landmine survivor to international champion, stands as a powerful example of resilience, determination, and hope.
Engaging Youth Through Education
Much of MLI's work in BiH has been shaped by young people, both in the United States and BiH, through CHAMPS (Children Against Mines Program), which connects youth across borders through virtual exchange calls, explosive ordnance-risk education, and support to survivors. MLI has been honored to also collaborate with the Fantomi Sitting Volleyball Team for work in BiH over the years.
CHAMPS students participated in:
Virtual exchange calls linking U.S. and Bosnian classrooms
Explosive ordnance risk education lessons and sessions, including for community members
Fundraisers supporting survivor prosthetics and assistance
Global calls throughout the school year, and awareness events tied to International Mine Awareness Day
Impact of Education:
Engaging young people promotes leadership and empowerment, giving them the tools to help shape safer futures for their communities. Through its educational initiatives, MLI has helped deliver Explosive Ordnance Risk Education to more than 100,000 people in Bosnia & Herzegovina, equipping communities with the knowledge to recognize and avoid the dangers of unexploded ordnance.
From the Field to Family: MDD Simone and Horizon’s Retirement
MDD Simone and MDD Horizon recently retired from working with MAG Bosnia to restore safety across Central Bosnia and Tuzla Cantons. These hero dogs contributed to clearance efforts that eliminated more than 4,000 landmines and unexploded ordnance, supported the search of 15 km² across 26 mine-suspected areas, and helped return 46 km² of land to safe use for farming, forestry, rural tourism, and movement along roads
Simone, sponsored by Stephen and Jaqui Edelmann, and Horizon, sponsored through the Clearing the Path Gala 2020 by Anne Witkowsky’s family, both retired in December 2025. In a fitting and heartfelt close to their years of service, both dogs were adopted by long-time handler, Branimir, ensuring that their final chapter is one of comfort, care, and family.
Looking Ahead: A Safer Future for Bosnia & Herzegovina
MLI's 21-year history of work in BiH demonstrates how focused and sustained collaboration can transform lives. Through the dedication of local demining organizations, international partners, government supporters, donors, and communities on the ground, MDD have searched dangerous land, survivors have received life-changing support, and youth have gained the knowledge engage with peers across cultures and borders, working together to improve the safety of their communities.
There is more work to be done, and we look forward to continuing our humanitarian partnerships in Bosnia & Herzegovina in the years to come. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our wonderful donors, partners, beneficiaries and the hero dogs and their handlers. Together, we can continue clearing the path to safety, dignity, and opportunity for communities in Bosnia & Herzegovina and around the world.
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