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( Belgian Congo)
The Belgian Congo (French Congo Belge, Dutch Belgisch Kongo) was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and the dawn of Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.[3] King Leopold II of Belgium successfully forced treaties upon native tribal and ethnic chieftains through the expeditions of Henry Morton Stanley in June 1884. Leopold then raised publicity campaigns with the aid of American General Henry Shelton Sanford to persuade President Arthur and Congress to recognize Leopold's claim to the Congo. Leopold turned over his personal property, the Congo Free State, mainly due to international outrage over the brutality of his reign. Annexation to Belgium was accomplished by means of the Treaty of 15 November 1908, approved by the Belgian Parliament in August and by the King in October of the following year. The colony was administered by a governor-general at Boma, assisted by several vice governors-general. In Brussels, there was a colonial minister, who presided over the Colonial Council of 14 members, of whom 8 were appointed by the King and 3 chosen by the Senate and 3 by the Chamber of Deputies (lower chamber). The colony was divided into 15 administrative districts. The colonial budget was voted annually by the Belgian Parliament. When the Belgian Government took over the Administration from King Leopold II, the situation in the Congo improved substantially.
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