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Belgian Imperialism in the Congo
Congo Free State 1885 - 1908
Belgian Colony 1908 - 1959
1890-1908
Belgian forces forced control of trade. Congolese are pressed into forced labour to harvest rubber and ivory and to build transportation and other infrastructure. Millions of Congolese are killed by Leopold's enforcement squads.
1959
1908
WWII
Belgium begins to lose control over events in the Congo following serious nationalist riots.
Reacting to outcry over atrocities committed against Congolese, the Belgian parliament annexes Congo Free State, and King Leopold II was removed from power. It is renamed Belgian Congo.
1879 - 1887
Belgian Congo was a crucial source of income for the Belgian government in exile in London. Belgian colonial army participated in the Allied campaigns in the second East African campaign.
Belgian King Leopold II sets up a private venture to colonize Kongo.
Leopold commissions Stanley to establish the king's authority in the Congo basin.
1885
1908 - 1960
Congo Free State established under Leopold after being formally recognized by European powers at Conference of Berlin.
Traditional chiefs had limited powers and remained under firm control of the Belgian Government. No political activity was permitted. The Belgian and Congolese that were in the Congo had no say in the government.
The brutal use of violence, was curbed. But forced labour did not disappear entirely. The government prioritized basic health care and education for the people over time.
WW1
Belgian colonial army fought against the German Colonial army in East Africa. This turned into open warfare with a joint Anglo-Belgian invasion of German colonial territory, during the East African Campaign.