Congo Free State

Congo Free State État indépendant du Congo
Personal union with the Kingdom of Belgium
← 1885–1908 →
Flag Coat of arms
Motto French: Travail et progrès (Work and Progress)
Anthem "Towards the Future"
Capital	Boma
Language(s)	French (de facto official), more than 200 indigenous languages
Government	Absolute monarchy
Ruler and owner
- 1885-1908	Leopold II of Belgium
Governor-general
- 1885–1886	Francis Walter de Winton (first)
- 1900-1908	Théophile Wahis (last)
Historical era	New Imperialism
- Established	July 1 1885
- Annexation by Belgium	November 15, 1908
Currency	Congolese franc

The Congo Free State (French: État indépendant du Congo) was a large area in Central Africa. It was privately owned by Leopold II, King of the Belgians. Leopold convinced the international community that he was involved in humanitarian work. He attracted scientific and humanitarian backing for the International African Association (French: Association internationale africaine), which he formed during a Brussels Geographic Conference of geographic societies, explorers, and leaders he hosted in 1876. Leopold used the Association and the defunct "Committee for Studies of the Upper Congo" (French: Comité d'études du Haut-Congo) as a way to claim most of the Congo Basin. Leopold created the International Association of the Congo (French: Association internationale du Congo) as a new organization. The entity was officially recognized by the Berlin Conference of 1884-85 and various governments. On May 29, 1885, the king named his new colony the Congo Free State (French: État indépendant du Congo)