Under Leopold II's rule, the Congo Free State was subjected to a brutal system of forced labor and atrocities, primarily for the extraction of rubber and ivory.

Once established, Leopold's 'humanitarian' mission quickly devolved into a ruthless quest for profit. The immense natural resources of the Congo, particularly rubber and ivory, became the focus of his administration. To maximize extraction, the indigenous Congolese population was subjected to a draconian system of forced labor. Villagers were given impossible quotas for rubber collection, and failure to meet these quotas resulted in severe punishments, including public floggings, imprisonment, the burning of villages, and the mutilation or murder of family members. Leopold employed a private army, the *Force Publique*, composed of African soldiers led by European officers, to enforce his mandates. This force was notorious for its brutality, often using methods like cutting off hands or feet as proof of killing or to punish those who failed to produce enough rubber. Eye-witness accounts and photographic evidence from missionaries and concerned individuals documented these horrors, painting a vivid picture of a regime built on terror and systematic violence. The scale of suffering and loss of life was immense, leading to a catastrophic decline in the Congolese population.