King Leopold II
Between 1885 and 1908 the Congo Free State (known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo today) was a colony under King Leopold II of Belgium.
Under the rule of King Leopold II the people of Congo experience what’s referred as “Congo Horrors.
The Berlin Conference 1884-85 the European leaders gave Leopold control over the Congo “on ground that it would be a free trade area and a buffer state between French and British spheres of influence”. King Leopold II Ivory’s trade was not successful and brought in little money. The Colonial administration was in debt frequently and were on the verge of defaulting multiple times. In the 1890s the Congo administration financial and trading problems ended with the increased demand for natural rubber. The people of Congo worked under extreme labor policies. It resulted in epidemic disease, famine and a drastic decline in the birth rate. During King Leopold II rule, the number of dead Congolese was reported to be about 15 million people. Private companies did not have any laws to regulate working conditions and the treatment of the workers. If the Congolese refused to supply/work for their labour they were beaten or whipped with chicotte- a heavy leather whip, traditionally made from an adult hippopotamus hide or plastic. A symbol on the King Leopold terror was the hack of Congolese hands. If soldiers misuse military equipment or the people refuse to work their hand was cut off. "Other practices used to force workers to collect rubber were taking women and family members hostage".
No comments:
Post a Comment