In order to conquer Congo, King Leopold’s army was backed and funded by almost the entire capitalist industrial class.
The raw materials were robbed from the Congo, processed in Wallonia and shipped through the Port of Antwerp. This lead to the booming industry in the south and made Antwerp one of the three largests ports in the world. Brussels as a city got massive upgrades in houses, parks, palaces etc. Belgium was build on the genocide of ten million Congolese people and the robbing of their raw materials.
To say there are no longer consequences to this day is just wrong. Congo gained independence only 62 years ago in 1960. It still has not recovered.
In order to conquer Congo, King Leopold’s army was backed and funded by almost the entire capitalist industrial class.
The raw materials were robbed from the Congo, processed in Wallonia and shipped through the Port of Antwerp. This lead to the booming industry in the south and made Antwerp one of the three largests ports in the world. Brussels as a city got massive upgrades in houses, parks, palaces etc. Belgium was build on the genocide of ten million Congolese people and the robbing of their raw materials.
To say there are no longer consequences to this day is just wrong. Congo gained independence only 62 years ago in 1960. It still has not recovered.