What did Mark Twain criticize about Belgian rule in the Congo in King Leopold’s Soliloquy?

In his satirical work King Leopold’s Soliloquy, Mark Twain utilized his platform to expose and condemn the brutal regime of Leopold II in the Congo Free State.

Twain’s writing served as a powerful critique of the hypocrisy behind Leopold’s so-called "civilizing mission," which was ostensibly established to end slavery and bring modern benefits to the region but functioned instead as a coercive machine for resource extraction. Specifically, Twain highlighted the horrific atrocities committed by the Force Publique, including:12

• The use of forced labour to gather rubber, palm oil, and ivory.3
• The kidnapping of families to coerce men into meeting unattainable work quotas.31
• The systematic use of terror, including the burning of villages and the slaughter of rebels' families.32
• The widespread mutilation of the Congolese people, including children, by cutting off their hands to punish resistance and prove the efficacy of the soldiers' violence.31

Twain’s exposés were instrumental in generating the international indignation that eventually forced Leopold to relinquish his personal control of the territory.12