Congo's Force Publique & King Leopold II

If greed were a person he would be Belgian monarch, King Leopold II. In this episode, we will explore the incredibly dark history of the Congo region in Central Africa. Congo has a history of exploitation by European colonizers and extractive industries. The worst of these predators was King Leopold II whose need to secure a colony for Belgium drove the him to deceive the international community for decades.

His deception was a cover for his quest to create wealth for his own fortune and for Belgium at the cost of an estimated many millions of lives. Leopold’s personal property, the Congo Free State, utilized the barbaric services of The Force Publique, a secret police force that terrorized the Congolese people.

 

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(1890) George Washington Williams’s Open Letter to King Leopold on the Congo. https://www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/primary-documents-global-african-history/george-washington-williams-open-letter-king-leopold-congo-1890/ 

 

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Music:

Scorching Action by Jonathan Margrove

Blood Kiss by Hainbach - Topics

Kalahari Wind by Humans Win

Cinematic Ambient Orchestral Drama Trailer by MEDIA MUSIC GROUP

Dramatic Investigation by Jon Presstone

Andante Sostenuto piano solo classical by Raighes Factory

Tension in the Dark by Jon Presstone 

Gnosienne by Eric Satie performed by Neil Cross and Raighes Factory

Bones - Quirky and mysterious plucked strings. Murder mystery and gothic mood by Gerardo Garcia Jr

Shake It and Break It (Weary Blues) by Humans Win

Love of God Cello by SBA

 

Disclaimers: NO AI was used to write or edit the contents of the show.
The opening scene is an excerpt from George Washington Williams' Open Letter to King Leopold II
January 15, 2024 changed the opening scene.