King Leopold II of Belgium formally acquired rights to the Congo territory

In 1885, King Leopold II of Belgium formally acquired rights to the Congo territory from various colonial nations in Europe, subsequently declaring the land his private property and naming it the Congo Free State. This acquisition marked the beginning of a brutal regime that lasted until 1908. During this period, Leopold's colonial military, known as the Force Publique, enforced a harsh system of labor that compelled the local population to produce rubber, a highly sought-after commodity at the time. The exploitation of the Congolese people led to widespread atrocities, including forced labor, violence, and significant population decline due to harsh working conditions and disease. Reports of these human rights abuses eventually drew international condemnation, leading to increased scrutiny of Leopold's rule. In 1908, facing mounting pressure and criticism, Leopold ceded control of the Congo Free State to the Belgian government, transforming it into a Belgian colony. This transition marked a significant shift in the governance of the region, although the legacy of exploitation and suffering endured long after Leopold's reign.