what natural resource led to terrible suffering for the people of Congo Free State who were forced extract it their Belgian masters?

The natural resource that led to terrible suffering for the people of the Congo Free State, who were forced to extract it for their Belgian masters, was rubber. During the late 19th century, the demand for rubber skyrocketed due to its use in various industrial applications, particularly the production of tires for bicycles, automobiles, and other vehicles.

King Leopold II of Belgium established the Congo Free State in 1885 as a personal colony, and he implemented a brutal and exploitative system to extract rubber from the region. The colonial administration forced local communities to collect and deliver a specific quota of rubber, often under threat of violence. This harsh system resulted in widespread atrocities, including forced labor, torture, and arbitrary killings of Congolese people who failed to meet the rubber collection targets.

The ruthless pursuit of rubber led to immense suffering and depopulation in the Congo Free State. Millions of Congolese people were subjected to inhumane conditions, leading to a severe humanitarian crisis and reports of widespread human rights abuses. The international community eventually intervened after a series of investigative reports and campaigns exposed the atrocities committed in the Congo Free State, leading to reforms and eventually the end of Leopold II's rule in 1908.