This podcast episode delves into the brutal realities of the Congo Free State under King Leopold II's rule. The hosts discuss Leopold's deceptive philanthropic claims, contrasting them with the horrific exploitation of Congolese people for ivory and rubber. They detail the use of forced labor, violence (including the widespread use of the chicot whip), and the systematic killing and mutilation of Congolese people by the Force Publique. A specific example highlights the testimony of Elanga, a Congolese woman whose family was brutally murdered during a forced labor operation. The episode concludes by introducing the early criticisms of Leopold's regime and foreshadows a future discussion of the campaign to expose his atrocities.
