Across Bosnia as a whole, the situation resembled Sarajevo's. Bosnia could be called a natural arena for Croats, Serbs, and Ottomans.
When the Austro-Hungarian Empire later occupied the area, matters naturally did not proceed smoothly. The remnants of the Ottoman Empire, along with infiltration by the external force of Serbia, made the local investment environment extremely poor.
Thus, the Hohenzollern Conglomerate and the East African government behind it could only adjust their strategy, choosing the relatively easier-to-control southwestern part of Bosnia as their main area of penetration.
As a German state, East Africa naturally distrusted the Ottoman remnants and the Serbs revived through extreme nationalism. Therefore, the Hohenzollern Conglomerate colluded with the Austro-Hungarian military at the time, driving the Ottoman remnants and Serbian immigrants centered around Mostar into inland Bosnian areas such as Sarajevo.
This was also the main reason why the residents of the Neretva River downstream valley were now primarily Chinese and Croats. Of course, in the official narrative of the Neretva River downstream valley, there were certainly no so-called "Chinese." These Chinese had all become Germanized Germans, and the same applied to the Croats and Serbs within the region.
As for Germans in the true sense, such as Austro-Hungarian Empire Government officials and military officers, there were still a certain number among the local upper class.
Kerlev, the general manager of the Mostar Hydroelectric Power Station Company, was a typical East African German. Although the Austro-Hungarian Empire held local military and administrative authority, the economy of the Neretva River downstream valley was entirely controlled by the East Africa-backed Hohenzollern Conglomerate.
This was also the tacit understanding between East Africa and the Austro-Hungarian Empire Government. Austro-Hungarian investment in Bosnia was concentrated in the north, or in key areas such as Sarajevo, while the then sparsely populated Neretva River