History: Crimes Against Humanity in Congo, 1885

In 1885, king Leopold of Belgium committed unforgivable crimes against the Congo free state. 78 years later, in 1963, Martin Luther King said “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”. In 1885, king Leopold of Belgium did not just commit crimes against the Congo free state, instead, he committed crimes against all of humanity. Between the Belgian government and the citizens of the world, the king had spread the idea that instead of following the traditional European route of colonization, he was a true philanthropist who was dedicated to fighting for human rights in Africa. He let anyone who would listen believe that he was a savior for the Congolese. Yet, only the natives knew that these words were contradictory to what they endured each day. Many of the kings’ crimes included murder, torture, sexual slavery, imprisonments, and unspeakable, inhumane, acts of abuse. During the reign of Belgium, Congo was mistreated, used, and tormented to its limits. At those limits lay the physical health and mental wellness of 15 million people. 

When establishing a colony in the Congo Free State, king Leopold II immediately adapted his laws, many of which were already arbitrary, to enhance racial persecution. He forced natives to sign treaties in exchange for their belongings. This, though it seemed fair, was unjust as treaties were written in English, and thus incomprehensible by the Congolese people. Similarly, oftentimes, immigrated Belgian officers who behaved the same as native officers were treated with more kindness for doing the same, or worse versions of crimes committed by natives. As an example, a white soldier stabbing a black native was found innocent because of his race. Furthermore, the king’s established government was cruel to white prisoners, who were beaten with chichotes, dried pieces of hippopotamus skin, and who were imprisoned with ox-chains. Yet, George Washington Williams reveals in his letter to the king that “The cruelties shown to soldiers and workmen are nothing compared with the sufferings of the poor natives who, upon breaking the smallest rule, are thrown into the most awful prisons”. Because of their racial identity, the Congolese were taken advantage of and treated unfairly. In some instances, they were sent to collect rubber, which they had to stick on their skin to then rip off, causing excruciating pain. If they didn’t collect enough rubber, their hands were cut off. Soldiers wasted bullets on hunting, but as they had to prove that they had used them for killing purposes, they would cut off natives’ hands, and present them to officers. George Washington Williams was the one who said it best when elaborating on racial persecution in king Leopold’s government: “There will be no improvement among the natives, because your government has hurt them and they will never be able to forgive you”. 

It is horrific and yet it is to no one's surprise that king Leopold, quickly after settling in Congo, made slaves of the native population. He proudly partaked in the slave trade and in the disrespecting of human rights. For military service, he would pay an insignificant amount of £3 to get a slave, which would sometimes become only 20 francs. He deported natives into new villages of which they knew nothing, not even the language. If they ran away, he would cruelly offer high rewards, and once the slaves were back, he tortured them to death with chicotes. He did not care about their rights. He did not think of their lives. To him, all that mattered was the satisfaction he would feel in seeing their pain. Not only that, but innocent women were captured and sentenced with crimes which they had not even known existed. They were then sent to be sexual slaves of officers, who would rape, abuse, and use their bodies. Slaves were buried alive in graves, and no one attempted to protect them. Annually, 1000 slaves were sold to be eaten by the natives of Congo. Orphans whose parents had been killed by the regime were brought up as obedient slave soldiers. This inhumane behavior and these cruel acts were brought upon innocent individuals day after day, who had no solution but to follow along. No solution but to endure the pain. No solution but to scream as they were being taken away. 

When king Leopold of Belgium introduced the Free State of Congo, he fed lies to everyone around the world. Instead of creating a peaceful environment, he instilled such rules and restrictions that he committed crimes against humanity. Among the many transgressions he committed, those of racial persecution and enslavement of innocents were the most horrendous to see. And while the native Congolese people were suffering, those in Belgium were thriving. The rubber which native slaves had to peel off of their bodies was used by Belgians to make car tires and travel. The ivory which destroyed Congo’s fauna and flora was used by Belgians to embellish their living rooms. It is against all of humanity’s values to allow that one country benefits off of another, and in the long term, does nothing to fix the damage caused. This is a call to the members of the International Criminal Court. Belgium must take action for its behavior in Congo in 1884. Belgium must realize that its prosperity only feeds off of another country’s. Belgium must apologize and repair the damage it has done. Because crimes against humanity are unforgivable.