The Congo Free State was one of the most infamous colonies in the history of European colonization. It was a private colonial venture by King Leopold in order to exploit Rubber in the region. The Congo Free State was effectively a slave society that warred against other slave societies like the Congo Arabs. In the Congo Free State, "workers" (slaves) could be flogged to death or have their arms amputated if they did not meet criteria. The Native troops (Askari) used their power of their authority to take sexual advantage of women. One account states "The Askari would put a bullet on a women's door as a way to ask for an invitation. If the women did not accept the invitation, the bullet one her door would be used to kill her". Also, the white officers ordered a served hand for every bullet fired by the Askaris. So the Askaris often raided villages to amputate hands just to lie to their officers that they didn't waste a bullet. The estimated death toll of the Congo Free State is 10 million.
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