Ratko Mladic, the Bosnian Serb general convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity for atrocities committed during the 1990s Bosnian war, has died at the age of 84, according to a UN official cited by Al Jazeera and NPR.
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Key facts
- Ratko Mladic has died at 84, a UN official says.
- He was serving a life sentence for genocide and crimes against humanity.
- He commanded Bosnian Serb forces during the 1990s war that killed more than 100,000 people.
- NPR described him as one of the most notorious figures of the conflict.
Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb general who was serving a life sentence for genocide and crimes against humanity, has died at the age of 84, according to a UN official cited by Al Jazeera and NPR.
Mladic commanded Bosnian Serb forces during the war of the 1990s, a conflict that left more than 100,000 people dead. He was widely regarded as one of the most notorious figures to emerge from that period, according to NPR.
NPR described him as a ruthless former communist officer who became a nationalist warlord. It reported that he ordered his troops to “scorch the brains” of the Bosnian Muslims and boasted of being a “Serbian God.”
At the time of his death, Mladic was serving a life sentence following his conviction for genocide and crimes against humanity, according to Al Jazeera.
The announcement of his death was initially reported as a breaking news story by Al Jazeera, attributed to a UN official. Details surrounding the circumstances of his death were not provided in the initial reports.
Why it matters
Mladic was one of the central figures held responsible for atrocities during the 1990s Bosnian war, a conflict that killed more than 100,000 people, according to NPR. He was convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity and was serving a life sentence at the time of his death.
Frequently asked questions
How old was Ratko Mladic when he died?
According to NPR, Ratko Mladic died at the age of 84.
What was Ratko Mladic convicted of?
He was serving a life sentence for genocide and crimes against humanity, according to Al Jazeera.
What role did Mladic play in the Bosnian war?
He was a Bosnian Serb general who commanded forces during a 1990s war that left more than 100,000 people dead, and was described by NPR as one of the conflict's most notorious figures.
Timeline
- Bosnian Serb General Ratko Mladic has died
Al Jazeera: Bosnian Serb General Ratko Mladic, who was serving a life sentence for genocide and crimes against humanity.
- Ratko Mladic, ex-Bosnian Serb warlord who oversaw atrocities in Bosnia, has died at 84
NPR News: The ruthless former communist officer-turned-nationalist warlord was one of the most notorious figures of a war that left more than 100,000 people dead. He commanded his troops to "scorch the brains" of the Bosnian Muslims.
- Ratko Mladic, ex-Bosnian Serb warlord who oversaw atrocities, has died at 84
NPR News: Ratko Mladic was one of the most notorious figures of a war that killed over 100,000 people in the 1990s. He commanded his troops to "scorch the brains" of the Bosnian Muslims and boasted of being a "Serbian God."
- Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladic has died, UN official says
Al Jazeera: This is a breaking news story.