16/06/2026

In cooperation between the Agency for Education and Professional Training (AEPTM) and the Embassy of the French Republic in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a two-week training programme for members of the special police units of SIPA, the Brčko District Police, the Federation Police Administration (FUP), and the Ministry of Interior of Republika Srpska (MUP RS) commenced today at the Agency for Education and Professional Training.

The training programme was designed by GIGN (Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale), the elite tactical unit of the French National Gendarmerie specializing in counter-terrorism operations, hostage rescue, protection of high-ranking officials, and crisis management. The training will be conducted by French instructors and attended by 20 members of the aforementioned special units. Their commanders, accompanied by Deputy Minister of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina Ivica Bošnjak and Director of the Agency Marko Vujević, met today with the participants and instructors.

In his address, Agency Director Marko Vujević recalled the highly successful cooperation established with the French Gendarmerie and expressed his gratitude to the Internal Security Attaché of the Embassy of the French Republic in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lieutenant Colonel Louis Boquien, for his efforts in organizing the training for members of the special police units of Bosnia and Herzegovina's security institutions, who will spend the next two weeks working alongside members of the elite units of the French Gendarmerie.

“I hope that, with the assistance of experts from the French Gendarmerie, you will further develop the knowledge and skills you already possess. I wish you every success. I am confident that after this training you will have acquired new skills and will be able to apply them within your respective police organizations, thereby enhancing the security of our country,” Director Vujević stated.

“Training and practice can never be sufficient,” Deputy Minister of Security Ivica Bošnjak told the participants, emphasizing that special units must operate under the most challenging conditions and under significant stress. For this reason, thorough training and professional preparedness are essential for accomplishing missions successfully while minimizing losses.

Bošnjak also referred to his recent visit to France and meetings held in the Senate and with colleagues from the French Gendarmerie, announcing that “in the coming period, the friendly Republic of France will continue to support the organization of training programmes as well as other aspects of police work.”

The Internal Security Attaché of the French Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lieutenant Colonel Boquien, thanked representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina's police institutions for their cooperation. He expressed his satisfaction with France's concrete engagement in the field of security in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“During these two weeks of training, we will focus on specific areas of instruction involving members of the elite units of the French Gendarmerie and your own elite units. I hope that we will meet your expectations and that, at the end of these two weeks, you will be able to say that this marks the beginning of a successful and long-lasting partnership,” Lieutenant Colonel Boquien stated.

He stressed that cooperation in the field of security is of great importance to France and noted that the threats faced by Bosnia and Herzegovina are the same as those faced by France. Speaking about terrorist threats, he recalled that France had been severely affected by terrorism, resulting in members of GIGN and other special units of the French Gendarmerie acquiring unique operational experience.

Pointing out that crime knows no borders and referring to the serious security consequences caused by irregular migration, Lieutenant Colonel Boquien stated that, for all these reasons, Bosnia and Herzegovina can count on France's commitment and on joint efforts to strengthen security in both Bosnia and Herzegovina and France.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the French GIGN instructors presented unit medallions to Director Vujević, Deputy Minister Bošnjak, SIPA Director Darko Ćulum, FUP Director Igor Marić, and Brčko District Police Chief Goran Pisić.

According to the programme, the first week of training will be conducted at the Agency's training complex, while the second week will take place at the Academy of the Ministry of Interior of Republika Srpska.

The training will include both theoretical and practical instruction in three areas:

• Firearms training (intervention shooting, shooting with a ballistic shield, vehicle close-quarters battle (VCQB) shooting, and long-range marksmanship);
• Tactical operations (operational procedures, movement and advancement techniques, close-quarters battle (CQB) room-entry techniques, and shield and non-shield tactics);
• Mission preparation and planning (hostage situations, active violent offender scenarios, police entry operations in residential premises, arrests in open areas, counter-terrorism operations, and assault planning).