What is Congo free-state?

The Congo Free State (French: État Indépendant du Congo) was a private property of King Leopold II of Belgium from 1885 to 1908. It was the personal colony of King Leopold II, who used it as a source of personal wealth. The colony was a major source of rubber and ivory, and the demand for these resources led to widespread exploitation and brutality. The Congo Free State was also home to a brutal regime of forced labor and violence. Millions of Congolese people died as a result of the brutal conditions in the colony.

In 1908, the Congo Free State was transferred to the Belgian government, and it became known as the Belgian Congo. The Belgian government continued to exploit the colony's resources, but it also introduced some reforms to improve the living conditions of the Congolese people. The Belgian Congo gained independence from Belgium in 1960.