Episode 173: Congo's Nightmare Part V - Shadow War

About this episode

This episode discusses the African resistance to the Congo Free State and the media campaign against the atrocities committed there.

As the evidence of atrocities in the Congo Free State became impossible to ignore, direct African resistance developed in numerous places around the Congo. As this was happening, a large and sophisticated human rights campaign developed around some courageous informants, journalists, and human rights activists. King Leopold II of Belgium then developed a response in one of the first modern versions of an information/misinformation shadow war in the age of mass media. This episode is Part 5 in a series on the Belgium Congo. It discusses African Resistance to the Congo Free State, E.D. Morel's media campaign to end the atrocities in the Congo, other informants like Roger Casement, King Leopold's response to the accusations, the role of media in shaping perceptions in Belgium, the most successful feat of pimpery of all time, and why much of this seems very modern. Future episodes will cover the end of the Congo Free State and it's ultimate legacy. -Consider Supporting the Podcast!- Leave a rating or review on apple podcasts or spotify ! Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory Check out my podcast series on Aftersun, Piranesi, Arcane, The Dark Knight…

People in this episode

Host: Reflecting History

Topics covered

• Congo Free State
• African resistance
• human rights campaign
• media influence
• atrocities
• information warfare

Keywords

• Congo
• atrocities
• E.D. Morel
• King Leopold II
• human rights
• media campaign
• African resistance
• information warfare

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Congo Free State, Belgium

More episodes of Reflecting History

• Episode 174: Congo's Nightmare Part VI - The End of the Congo Free State · April 21, 2026 · 35 min
• Episode 172: Congo's Nightmare Part IV - The Rubber Boom · March 10, 2026 · 48 min
• Episode 171: Congo's Nightmare Part III - Ivory Terror · February 17, 2026 · 37 min
• Episode 170: Congo's Nightmare Part II - A Slice of African Cake · January 27, 2026 · 47 min
• Episode 169: Congo's Nightmare Part I - An Ancient Place · January 6, 2026 · 40 min
• Episode 168: Never Let Me Go and The Bear · December 16, 2025 · 20 min