Belgium, under King Leopold II, famously colonized the Congo Free State, which is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. From 1885 to 1908, Leopold's regime was characterized by extreme exploitation and violence, with millions of Congolese people suffering due to forced labor, harsh treatment, and high mortality rates. The international outcry over these abuses eventually led to the Belgian government taking control of the territory in 1908. The legacy of Leopold's brutal rule profoundly impacted Congolese society, contributing to long-term issues of political instability and economic exploitation that continued long after independence in 1960.