Belgian city removes bust of Congo colonizer Leopold II

https://hosted.ap.org/article/f55831878a4f94691f1b3451a818fddf/belgian-king-expresses-regret-violence-colonial-rule

Jun. 30, 2020 12:14 PM EDT
Belgian city removes bust of Congo colonizer Leopold II
By SAMUEL PETREQUIN
Associated Press



BRUSSELS (AP) — A bust of former Belgian King Leopold II was taken off public display in the city of Ghent on Tuesday as Belgium marked the 60th anniversary of the end of its colonial rule in Congo.

The removal of the monarch’s likeness took place only hours after Belgium’s King Philippe, in an unprecedented move, expressed his “deepest regrets” for the violence the one-time colonial power inflicted on Congo and its people during the late 19th century.

Leopold, who ruled Belgium during 1865-1909, plundered Congo as if it were his personal fiefdom, forcing many of its people into slavery to extract resources for his own profit.

The early years after he laid claim to the African country are especially infamous for killings, forced labor and other forms of brutality that some experts estimate left as many as 10 million native people dead.