* The Congo Free State: Leopold II's personal colony, the Congo Free State, was a brutal regime that oversaw the systematic exploitation of the Congolese people and their resources.
* Human Rights Abuses: The regime was notorious for its horrific human rights abuses, including mass killings, torture, mutilation, forced labor, and the use of starvation as a tool of control.
* Rubber Extraction: The main purpose of the colony was rubber extraction, which was achieved through forced labor and violence. Estimates of the death toll during Leopold II's reign range from 2 to 10 million.
* Brutal Enforcement: The system of enforcement was brutal, with the use of whips, guns, and the amputation of hands as punishment for failing to meet quotas.
* Covering Up Atrocities: Leopold II went to great lengths to cover up the atrocities committed in the Congo Free State, using propaganda and suppressing information about the true conditions.
While some historians argue that Leopold II was not solely responsible for the atrocities committed in the Congo, his role as the sovereign of the Free State and his personal enrichment from the exploitation of the Congolese people are undeniable.
Leopold II's legacy is one of immense suffering and exploitation. He is widely condemned for his actions and considered a symbol of the dark side of colonialism.
It is important to note that this is a complex historical issue with various perspectives and interpretations. However, the vast majority of historians and scholars agree that Leopold II's reign in the Congo Free State was characterized by extreme brutality and exploitation.