How did they take over Congo?

The takeover of Congo, particularly during the late 19th century, was largely facilitated by King Leopold II of Belgium. He exploited the region's resources, particularly ivory and rubber, through a brutal regime that included forced labor and severe violence against the local population. Leopold's personal control over the Congo Free State from 1885 to 1908 led to widespread atrocities, resulting in millions of deaths. Eventually, international outrage over these human rights abuses forced Belgium to annex the territory, transforming it into a Belgian colony in 1908.