The King of Belgium, Philippe has expressed regret for the cruel acts committed when his ancestor, Leopold II, colonised a nation that is now called the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and treated the country as his personal property.
The King wrote a letter to the President of DRC, Felix Tshisekedi on Tuesday. In the letter, Philippe wrote about his deep regret for these past sufferings, the pain of which is also brought back by the discriminations that are clearly present in our societies.
Also, the 60-year-old King apologised for the suffering and humiliation encountered after the end of Leopold II’s rule over the Congo Free State between1885 and 1908 when the country became Belgian Congo.
DRC celebrated 60th independence anniversary from its former colonial power on Tuesday.
According to historians, the population of the Congo Free State may have been reduced by half to around 10 million people when Leopold II ruled over the territory as his private property.
King Leopold II exploited the country and its citizens for natural resources like rubber.
After the gruesome murder of George Floyd, there has been various demonstrations against racism in Belgium and protests were directed against monuments from the colonial era particularly statues of Leopold II.
