In 2008, the city of Mitrovica in Kosovo was formally divided into two municipalities: North Mitrovica and South Mitrovica, following a law passed under the Kosovo administrative system. Five years later, in 2013, these divisions came into full effect, particularly after the implementation of the Brussels Agreement. The two municipalities operated as distinct entities. Yet, in 2024, a peculiar change has emerged — the term „North“ has disappeared from the identification cards of some residents in North Mitrovica.
The initial division of Mitrovica was part of a larger administrative restructuring in 2008, where North and South Mitrovica were created as separate municipalities.
By 2014, following local elections, North Mitrovica was fully established as an independent municipality, with its administrative office founded in May 2012.
Over the years, residents of the northern municipality have carried identification cards that explicitly listed „North Mitrovica“ as their place of residence.
However, several residents have recently reported that new identification documents issued in late 2024 no longer include „North“ in the place of residence section. Instead, the IDs merely list „Mitrovica,“ leaving residents puzzled.
One resident who obtained a new card in September noticed that „North“ was missing from his listed address. Another resident, who has lived in North Mitrovica for decades, received a new ID card in early October, similarly listing his place of residence simply as „Mitrovica.“
Yet, this change has not affected everyone.
A third resident, who received his ID card in April 2024, reported that his identification still lists „North Mitrovica“ as his place of residence. The discrepancy has raised questions about the reasons behind this sudden omission, prompting further inquiries into the administrative process.
Local authorities seem equally baffled. The head of the North Mitrovica Municipal Assembly, Nedžad Ugljanin, expressed surprise, stating, „It’s impossible for this to happen. I will investigate this because, according to municipal statutes, it must state ‘North Mitrovica,’ given that South Mitrovica exists separately as the southern part of the city.“
Ugljanin emphasized that omitting the „North“ from identification documents would be against the law. He plans to visit the office responsible for issuing these documents to get to the bottom of the issue. He also clarified that the municipality is responsible for issuing identification documents such as ID cards, passports, and birth certificates but not for driving licenses.
Despite repeated attempts to clarify the situation, local authorities have yet to provide a concrete explanation. KoSSev reached out to Visar Syla, the chief of staff of the mayor of North Mitrovica, for a response, but no comment was received by the time of publication.
What Do the ID Cards Look Like?
For ‘citizenship,’ the term ‘Kosovar’ is used. This is a term from the Albanian language, and it is also used in English, alongside the term ‘Kosovan.’ In the Serbian language, the correct forms are ‘Kosovac’ (male) or ‘Kosovka’ (female).
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