Leopold's reforms

Leopold's reforms refer to efforts by King Leopold II of Belgium in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to improve the administration and infrastructure of the Congo Free State, which he personally controlled. His initiatives included building hospitals, schools, and transportation networks. However, these reforms often served to mask brutal exploitation and forced labor of Congolese people for resource extraction, especially rubber and ivory. While some developmental efforts occurred, they were frequently overshadowed by severe abuses and human rights violations committed under his rule.