SerialSaga:The Dark Legacy of Leopold II

Did you know that one of the most horrific genocides in history was orchestrated by a European king who is barely mentioned in history books? Leopold II of Belgium, whose reign lasted 44 years (the longest in Belgian history), left behind a legacy of unspeakable violence and cruelty in the Congo. This dark chapter has been largely swept under the rug.

Leopold II was not content with being a king; he wanted an empire. When Belgium showed little interest in his colonial ambitions, he took matters into his own hands. Under the guise of the International African Society, a so-called humanitarian organization, Leopold laid claim to a vast territory in the Congo—14 times the size of Belgium. In an astonishing move, 14 countries, including the USA, agreed to let him rule this land with his private militia.

The Western demand for rubber and ivory was insatiable, and Leopold's solution was sheer terror. Forced labor, torture, murder, and amputation of limbs became routine for those who couldn’t meet the quotas. The indigenous populations were subjected to unimaginable horrors, all to satisfy Leopold's greed.

Leopold's reign of terror resulted in a death toll estimated between two and fifteen million people. Think about that—millions of lives lost because 14 countries handed him unchecked power. To put this into perspective, six million people were executed during the Holocaust. Yet, the genocide in the Congo remains a lesser-known atrocity. Why is the massacre of millions of innocent Congolese not as highly regarded as the Jewish Holocaust, despite the higher potential death toll? This discrepancy raises important questions about historical recognition and the narratives we choose to remember.

The region, once the Kongo Kingdom, was renamed the Congo Free State. To finance his rule, Leopold exploited the land and its people mercilessly. The Congolese paid for his imperial dream with their lives and labor. Millions of farmers, fishers, traders, poets, and artists were enslaved and killed for financial gain.

Why does this matter today? Because the echoes of Leopold's atrocities still resonate. The Congo's history of exploitation and violence has long-lasting impacts, contributing to ongoing conflicts and instability in the region. By examining these dark chapters, we acknowledge the profound suffering inflicted by imperial greed and the urgent need to remember and learn from history's overlooked genocides.