The Congo Free State was a large area in Central Africa that existed from 1885 to 1908. It was established as a personal possession of King Leopold II of Belgium, who claimed it as his own territory during the European scramble for Africa. The region was rich in natural resources, particularly rubber and ivory, which attracted significant international interest. The administration of the Congo Free State was marked by severe exploitation and human rights abuses. The local population faced forced labor and harsh treatment, leading to millions of deaths. In response to international criticism, the Belgian government took control of the territory in 1908, transforming it into the Belgian Congo.