High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina

The high representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, together with the Office of the High Representative (OHR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was created in 1995 immediately after the signing of the Dayton Agreement which ended the 1992 to 1995 Bosnian War. The purpose of the high representative and the OHR is to oversee the civilian implementation of the Dayton Agreement. They are appointed by and serve to represent the countries of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC).

The so-called Bonn Powers remain a highly contested attribute of the high representative. Although their legality is questionable, the Bonn Powers give the high representative a wide range of powers, including imposing and annulling laws and appointing and removing officials.