Congo Free State

The **Congo Free State** () was a large area in Central Africa. It was privately owned by Leopold II, King of the Belgians. Leopold convinced the international community that he was involved in humanitarian work. He attracted scientific and humanitarian backing for the International African Association (), which he formed during a Brussels Geographic Conference of geographic societies, explorers, and leaders he hosted in 1876. Leopold used the Association and the defunct "Committee for Studies of the Upper Congo" () as a way to claim most of the Congo Basin.

Leopold created the International Association of the Congo () as a new organization. The entity was officially recognized by the Berlin Conference of 1884-85 and various governments. On May 29, 1885, the king named his new colony the Congo Free State () and ruled it as a despot (even though he never visited his colony and Africa).

The Congo Free State under Leopold II used forced labor and mutilation of their hands, in order to get full control and force the natives to work at extracting natural resources, mainly rubber and ivory, for Leopold II's personal profit.

His harsh rule was responsible for the deaths of between five to 10 million Congolese people. The Congo became one of the most infamous international scandals of the early 20th century. As a result, Leopold II was forced to give control of it to the government of Belgium. The Belgian government took control in 1908 and created the Belgian Congo.

## Infobox (former country)

- **native name**: _État indépendant du Congo_
- **conventional long name**: Congo Free State
- **common name**: Congo
- **continent**: Africa
- **region**: Central Africa
- **country**: Democratic Republic of the Congo
- **era**: New Imperialism
- **status**: Vassal
- **status text**: Personal union with the Kingdom of Belgium
- **government type**: Absolute monarchy
- **common languages**: French language, French <small>(de facto official)</small>,
Languages of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, more than 200 indigenous languages
- **event start**: Berlin conference, Established
- **year start**: 1885
- **date start**: July 1
- **event end**: Belgian Congo, Annexation by Belgium
- **year end**: 1908
- **date end**: November 15
- **p1**: International Association of the Congo
- **flag p1**: Flag of the Congo Free State.svg
- **s1**: Belgian Congo
- **flag s1**: Flag of the Congo Free State.svg
- **image flag**: Flag of the Congo Free State.svg
- **flag**: Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- **image coat**: Coat of arms of the Congo Free State.svg
- **symbol**: Coat of arms of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- **image map**: LocationCongoFreeState.png
- **national motto**: __
(Work and Progress)
- **national anthem**: "Towards the Future"
- **capital**: Boma, Kongo Central, Boma
- **latd**: 5
- **latm**: 51
- **latns**: S
- **longd**: 13
- **longm**: 3
- **longew**: E
- **leader1**: Leopold II of Belgium
- **year leader1**: 1885-1908
- **title leader**: Ruler and owner
- **representative1**: Francis Walter de Winton <small>(first)</small>
- **year representative1**: 1885–1886
- **representative2**: Théophile Wahis <small>(last)</small>
- **year representative2**: 1900-1908
- **title representative**: List of colonial heads of Congo, Governor-general
- **currency**: Congolese franc