Belgian colonialism primarily refers to Belgium's control over the Congo Free State from 1885 to 1908, which was personally owned by King Leopold II. Under his rule, the region experienced severe exploitation, with forced labor and harsh conditions leading to millions of deaths. The wealth generated from rubber and ivory extraction significantly enriched Belgium. In 1908, international pressure forced Belgium to take over the administration of the Congo, renaming it the Belgian Congo. While conditions improved somewhat, the legacy of exploitation and racial discrimination persisted, impacting the region's development and contributing to ongoing challenges in Democratic Republic of the Congo after independence in 1960.