On May 14, 1885, the Congo Free State was formally established under the personal control of King Leopold II of Belgium. What was promoted as a humanitarian effort quickly became one of the most brutal colonial regimes in history. Under Leopold’s rule, Congolese people were forced into rubber production through a system of terror, leading to widespread mutilation, death, and displacement. Estimates suggest that 10 million people may have died during this period. The international outcry eventually led to the Belgian government taking control of the territory in 1908. This day marks the beginning of one of Africa’s darkest colonial chapters, which continues to shape Congo’s modern challenges.
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