Private company

Société anonyme belge pour le commerce du Haut-Congo

Former Belgian colonial company

The Société anonyme belge pour le commerce du Haut-Congo (SAB) was a private enterprise in the Congo Free State, later the Belgian Congo, that operated a string of trading stations in the Congo River basin, and exported ivory, rubber and other local products. The ruthless treatment of the local people by SAB agents inspired Joseph Conrad to write his 1899 novel Heart of Darkness.2 It was founded by Albert Thys.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 20, 2026.

Overview

1888Founded1
  • Industrytrade1
  • HeadquartersBrussels1

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Brederode 13
Photo: Boubloub, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons3

The Société anonyme belge pour le commerce du Haut-Congo (SAB) was a private enterprise in the Congo Free State, later the Belgian Congo, that operated a string of trading stations in the Congo River basin, and exported ivory, rubber and other local products. The ruthless treatment of the local people by SAB agents inspired Joseph Conrad to write his 1899 novel Heart of Darkness.2

The story

Founded by Albert Thys in 1888.1

Leadership

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Timeline

  1. 1888Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

  1. 1
  2. 2
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