The area now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo, based on the Congo River was seen (and is) back in the late nineteenth century as a massive potential source of money (cash crops) and soldiers. As a result of this, none of the major powers of the time (Great Britain, France, the USA, the German Empire, Russia, Italy and Austria Hungary) wanted to see it in the hands of their respective enemies.

As a result, the great powers convened in 1884 at Berlin to give it to the militarily ineffectual king of Belgium, Leopold. They also ensured that it was not constitutionally connected to Belgium, but only the the person of Leopold himself, in a personal union. This was all done to marginalise the chance of the Congo Basin (the modern-day Democratic Republic of Congo) upsetting the Balance of power which was emerging in Europe at the time.