Abdulah Skaka

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Abdulah Skaka
Abdulah Skaka (cropped).jpg
Skaka in 2017
38th Mayor of Sarajevo
In office
6 February 2017 – 8 April 2021
Preceded byIvo Komšić
Succeeded byBenjamina Karić
Personal details
Born (1983-12-05) 5 December 1983 (age 38)
Sarajevo, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia
Political partyParty of Democratic Action (2013–present)
Education
ProfessionPolitician and economist

Abdulah Skaka (born 5 December 1983) is a Bosnian politician and economist who served as the 38th mayor of Sarajevo from 2017 to 2021.

Since 2013, he has been a member of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA).

Early and personal life[]

Skaka was born on 5 December 1983 in Sarajevo, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia, the oldest of six children to Dr. Uzeir Skaka (died 2015) and Amra.[1][2] His paternal grandfather, also named Abdulah, was a co-founder of the Party of Democratic Action in 1990.[3]

The Skaka family first arrived to Sarajevo around 1665,[4] when his ancestor opened the cities first barber shop in the Stari Grad municipality.[5]

Since 2009, he has worked as the general manager of SKY Media company in Sarajevo.[6] Skaka lives in Stari Grad with his wife and two children.[7][8]

Political career[]

Skaka joined the Party of Democratic Action in 2013 and was elected by 16 out of the 28 members of the City Council of Sarajevo to become the 38th Mayor of the city on 6 February 2017, replacing Ivo Komšić.[9]

In July 2019, he awarded American senator Bob Dole the Key to the City of Sarajevo for his 96th birthday, inviting him to the visit the city again for his 97th birthday in 2020.[10] After four years and following the 2020 municipal elections, on 8 April 2021, Skaka was succeeded by Benjamina Karić as Mayor of Sarajevo.[11]

His career was marked by a large number of realized projects including Trebevic cable car, EYOF youth games, Olympic Museum, Bistrik station, construction of Vidikovac facility, Trg Jugoslava Korenića, organization of New Year's Eve with the biggest music stars, which further strengthened Sarajevo's image and profited by the influx of hundreds of thousands of tourists, donating Ramadan cannons to cities around BiH, rehabilitation of the tunnel at Ciglane, cleaning and beautification of the Miljacka riverbed, setting up Olympic circles, are just a part of what this young man has realized. Additionally numerous of "smaller" ones includes construction and renovation of bridges, Sarajevo fountains, cleaning and renovation of facades, construction of tourist infrastructure to the illumination of important buildings in the center and the old town.[12]


United Nations gave him tecognition for successfull organization of EYOF (European Youth Olympics Festival) in cooperation with East Sarajevo which is recognized as a strong message and the best example in the direction of building peace and cohesion in Bosnia and Herzegovina. [13]

“Man of the year” award was given to Abdulah Skaka in 2019 thanks to many successful projects.[14]

He was a guest of Donald Trump at the 68th Traditional Prayer Breakfast in Washington at the invitation of the United States Congress.[15]

Controversies[]

Skaka claimed to have graduated the School of Economics and Business at the University of Sarajevo in 2011, although in October 2018 it was found that he actually attended the University of Travnik.[16] The same source states that the mayor replied that it was a technical error of the administration, and the error was immediately rectified. He also been criticized for his lack of knowledge of regional politics and politicians, such as once claiming on television that Bosnian politician Stjepan Kljuić was the president of Croatia Stjepan Mesić, apparently confusing the two.[17] His gaffes have often been compared to Bushisms.

On 28 February 2020, it was revealed in a leaked recording that his election for Sarajevo mayor was not legitimate and that decisive votes had been bought.[18][19] Publishing of the leaked recording resulted in a series of calls for resignation or suspension of Skaka, including petition by citizens,[20] several calls for resignation or suspension by politicians or political parties present in the City Council of Sarajevo,[21][22][23] and by intellectuals.[24]

Abdulah Skaka resigned after the charges, which the City council rejected and re-elected him as mayor which shows that the election was legitimate. [25]

References[]

  1. ^ "Ko je Abdulah Skaka, novi gradonačelnik Sarajeva". BA N1. 6 February 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  2. ^ "Sjećanje na Abdulaha Skaku". Preporod. 15 July 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  3. ^ "BEĆIREVIĆ I SKAKA U UTRCI ZA GRADONAČELNIKA SARAJEVA". Hayat. 5 January 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  4. ^ "Čovjek čijeg se prezimena svi plaše". Slobodna Bosna. 17 July 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  5. ^ "Skake više od 300 godina njeguju porodičnu tradiciju". Klix. 14 July 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Abdulah Skaka". Hamdocamo. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  7. ^ "Abdulah Skaka biografija". Imovina Politicara. 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  8. ^ "Imovina gradonačelnika Sarajeva: Koliko je "težak" Abdulah Skaka". Faktor. 8 March 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Abdulah Skaka novi gradonačelnik Sarajeva". Al Jazeera Balkans. 6 February 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  10. ^ "Ključ Sarajeva Bobu Dolu". Danas. 22 July 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  11. ^ R.D. (8 April 2021). "Benjamina Karić je zvanično nova gradonačelnica Sarajeva" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  12. ^ "Abdulah Skaka: We have restored dignity to Sarajevo, I want the new mayor to continue great projects". klix.ba. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  13. ^ . 10 October 2019 https://radiosarajevo.ba/amp/vijesti/bosna-i-hercegovina/gradonacelnici-sarajeva-i-istocnog-sarajeva-dobili-priznanje-un-a/353531. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. ^ . 23 Januar 2020 https://www.klix.ba/magazin/showbiz/laskavu-titulu-muskarca-godine-ponio-gradonacelnik-sarajeva-abdulah-skaka/200123071. Check date values in: |date= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. ^ . 28 Januar 2020 https://www.fokus.ba/vijesti/bih/gradonacelnik-sarajeva-prisustvuje-molitvenom-dorucku-kod-trumpa/1671201/. Check date values in: |date= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  16. ^ "SDA-ov gradonačelnik Sarajeva Abdulah Skaka lažirao biografiju". Avaz. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  17. ^ "Svi gafovi gradonačelnika Sidrana, pardon Skake". Oslobodjenje. 2 March 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  18. ^ "Mayor Skaka avoiding to answer allegations". Klix. 1 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  19. ^ "How Sabina Cudic Lost Bid for Sarajevo Mayor". Klix. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  20. ^ "Citizens Petition for Resignation". Online Peticija. 1 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  21. ^ "Nasa Stranka Launches Process Against Abdulah Skaka". BanjaLuka In. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  22. ^ "City Council Member Stojnic Asks for Skaka's Resignation". Radio Sarajevo. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  23. ^ "Independent Parliament Members Demand Skaka's Resignation". Klix. 29 February 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  24. ^ "Zubčević: Afera "Asim"". Nomad. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  25. ^ ""The city council has rejected an initiative to remove Mayor Skaka"". RadioSarajevo. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2021.

External links[]

Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Sarajevo
2017–2021 		Succeeded by
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