King Leopold II's establishment of the Congo Free State as his private possession marked a dramatic shift in the dynamics of European colonial expansion in Africa. The event followed years of negotiation, deception, and aggressive lobbying for control over resources in the African continent. Leopold, driven by a desire for wealth and the pursuit of a personal empire, engaged in a series of treaties with local chieftains, misleading them regarding his intentions. The Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, which sought to regulate European colonization and trade in Africa, provided Leopold with international validation for his claims. Notably, he successfully portrayed himself as a humanitarian by emphasizing the purported need for civilizing missions in Africa, gaining support from other European powers.Once established, the Congo Free State operated as a private enterprise, giving Leopold unprecedented authority over the territory. The exploitation of natural resources, particularly rubber and ivory, led to widespread atrocities and a harsh regime characterized by forced labor and brutal methods of extraction. This environment of exploitation fostered deep social and economic changes and brought about a complex legacy of colonial rule that would later spark significant resistance movements and humanitarian outrage, eventually leading to changes in administration under international scrutiny.The significance of Leopold's rule over the Congo cannot be overstated, as it set a precedent for other European powers in Africa. The immediate control and exploitation would lead to severe ramifications for the Congolese population, fundamentally altering their livelihoods and society. The Congo Free State's operations were later characterized by catastrophic population decline, economic hardship, and social disruption due to the violent and oppressive regime enforced by Leopold’s agents.