The Congo Free State

The Congo Free State was a large area in Central Africa controlled privately by King Leopold II of Belgium from 1885 to 1908. It was officially owned by the state but operated as his personal empire, focused on exploiting its natural resources, especially rubber and ivory. During this period, forced labor and severe mistreatment of local people led to widespread atrocities, causing the deaths of millions. International outrage eventually forced Belgium to annex the territory in 1908, turning it into the Belgian Congo, to better regulate and manage its resources and humanitarian concerns.