Leopoldo II's colonialism began with humanitarian actions in Congo. This made it appear that this colonism would be different from the others and would help the region to grow. However, these actions were a front for an intense exploration, accompanied by a series of abuses to start.
This is because, right at the beginning of King Leopoldo II's colonialism, he started a series of forced labor, where the people of Congo were forced to extract as much ivory and rubber as possible. In addition, those who refused to work for the crown were severely punished, often with severed hands. The population was also affected by countless diseases and the crown did nothing to treat them.
