Abstract
Abstract ‘Belgian Africa’ consisted of the Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of the Congo [→ Congo, Democratic Republic of the]) and Ruanda-Urundi (now → Rwanda and → Burundi). The ‘Congo Free State’ was acquired by King Leopold II at the conclusion of the → Berlin West Africa Conference (1884–85) on 5 February 1885 and thereafter run as a privately controlled corporate territory. After mistreatment of the local population caused significant public pressure and diplomatic manoeuvres, culminating in an international commission of enquiry, King Leopold II had to relinquish his personal control over the territory to the Belgian State in 1908 by the Colonial Charter (Loi sur le gouvernement du Congo belge), which governed the territory until Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.
Published Version
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