After the Berlin conference (1884-1885) where European nations established the 'legal' claim that all of Africa could be occupied by anyone who could take it, different European nations undertook to install their flags all over Africa.
Leopold II, King of the Belgians, seized the Congo in 1885, declaring it an 'independent state' under the pretext of humanitarianism. He never set foot in the Congo, but in fact made it his personal property, transforming the people and the land into a lucrative enterprise.
Congo is rich in ivory and rubber, coveted by Leopold II. To maximize his profits, he established an extremely harsh system for the population: if the rubber collection quotas were not met. Millions would pay with their lives: chopped-off hands, destroyed villages.
Leopold II declares rubber a "tax" owed to the crown. In reality, he steals the lands and riches of the Congolese, forcing them to work as slaves on their own soil. In case of non-compliance with the quotas, they were punished by amputation or assassination.
Leopold II had an army composed of about 19,000 European mercenaries, called the Force Publique. The army also massively recruited Africans into its subordinate ranks.
Besides shootings and mutilations, disease was another factor that caused millions of deaths. The well-being of the workers was not taken into account by the Belgians, who often starved them.
Leopold II bleeds the Congo. Diplomatic discussions and pressures from all sides lead Leopold II to renounce his reign over the Congo Free State and cede it to the Belgian government, becoming Belgian Congo.
In 23 years, about 10 million Congolese die under Leopold II. In Belgium, his statues are vandalized to denounce his crimes.
(Jeune Afrique + BBC + TV5 Monde + Radio France + Radio Canada + Le Monde)
