What did the European power want in the congo?

Answer 1

This question could probably be broadened to ask, what did the Europeans want in Africa? But there were some specific aspects that pertain to the Congo. All this occurred during the years of the Scramble for Africa, 1876-1912. Britain and France were the main competitors, but Germany, Holland,and Portugal were in the game too, and King Leopold of Belgium also wanted to be a player.

Some of this involved exploration -- the search for the beginning of the Nile, for example. Some involved missionaries who wanted to convert the natives and save souls. Some involved speculators who wanted to exploit the continent's riches for private gain.

Mostly, though, it involved empire building by colonial powers engaged in the competition that would ultimately lead to World War I.

The British were trying to control a north-south axis from the Nile to the Cape, mostly in the east. The French were trying to go from West Africa to the Horn in the east.

The Congo was west of the British sphere of influence and south of the French line -- although the French did make a race to get to the Congo first.

Belgium's Leopold was the one who negotiated his way there, probably because, as between Britain and France, he was a neutral party. Leopold wanted the Congo as his private possession, to exploit as he saw fit. (Later, that cost him.) He did issue lots of platitudes, saying he wanted to do good there, and this got him seed money from wealthy benefactors.

In the event, rubber and ivory were exported; slave labor was employed (often through native chieftains), but on the other hand, Arab slave traders were fought against, and by the time of the Scramble, slave trafficking was prohibited internationally.

So, bottom line, the main reason Belgium took over the Congo was King Leopold's ego and desire for prestige.

Answer 2

This reminds me of an old story I read way back when starting university. I believe it was called Heart of Darkness by an author named Joseph Conrad. The British and Europeans went deep into the jungle in order to find Elephant tusk for ivory and the theme illustrated how people can turn into absolute savages under pure Imperialism.