During the Free State period, Congo was reputed to have been brutalised by a harsh economic policy that entailed rubber production quotas to be met by forced labour.

[7] During a visit by a Belgian cabinet delegation in 2008 to the Congo, President Joseph Kabila said he did not appreciate a message brought by the team in regards to human rights issues.

I will note that every time a Belgian delegation is led by the minister of foreign affairs; it is with a lot of arrogance, as if our visitors are coming here to lecture us.

[11] On 30 June 2020, King Philippe of Belgium expressed his "deep regrets", but not apologies, for the atrocities in the Congo Free State in a letter to the Congolese president.

[12] In June 2022, King Philippe of Belgium, returned a mask, called Kakungu, which was used during healing ceremonies by the Suku people, and previously exhibited at the Royal Museum for Central Africa, during a week-long visit to DR Congo at the invitation of President Félix Tshisekedi.