Belgium's king regrets that his country killed tens of millions of Africans

Belgian Monarch made these comments in a letter sent to the president of Kongros Felx Tschede on the 60th anniversary of this country's independence.

Belgium had controlled the state from central Africa from the 19th century until its independence was declared in 1960, writes the BBC, translates Periscope.

Millions of Africans have died during Belgium's bloody colonial rule.

There is a recently renewed focus on the history of this European state following George Floyd's death in the hands of police and after the subsequent protests.

Thousands of Belgians have also demonstrated in recent weeks and statues of colonial leader King Leopold II has been vandalised.

More than 10 million Africans are thought to have died during his rule.

This is the first time a Belgian monarch formally expresses regret for colonial rule in Congo. /Periscope