King Leopold II of Belgium, who ruled from 1865 to 1909, established the Congo Free State as his personal property in 1885. His regime exploited the Congo's resources, particularly rubber and ivory, using extreme violence and coercion. This led to the deaths of an estimated 10 million Congolese people due to violence, disease, and famine. International outrage over these atrocities eventually forced the Belgian government to take control of the Congo in 1908, ending Leopold's personal rule. His legacy is a stark reminder of the brutalities of colonial exploitation.
#congo #leopard #belgium #africa #shorts #short #colony
