Hidden Horrors of History: The Belgian Congo’s Dark Past

Stark reminders of humanity’s capacity for cruelty.

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History books gloss over the most disturbing events of our past.

We’re familiar with conflicts like World Wars I and II. There are dark chapters that don’t get the attention they deserve, like one of the most shocking.

In the late 19th century, King Leopold II of Belgium set his sights on a vast territory in Central Africa. He claimed the Congo Free State as his personal property. What followed was a brutal regime that lasted from 1885 to 1908.

Leopold’s rule was marked by unimaginable cruelty. He turned the Congo into a massive rubber plantation, forcing the local population to meet impossible quotas. The consequences for failing to deliver enough rubber were severe. Leopold’s private army, the Force Publique, would cut off the hands of workers who didn’t meet their targets.

The brutality didn’t stop there. Entire villages were burned. Women were raped. Children were kidnapped and sent to “child colonies” where many died. The goal was simple. Extract as much wealth from the Congo as possible, no matter the human cost.

Leopold’s reign resulted in the deaths of 10 to 15 million Congolese people, nearly half the population. The Congo’s…