Timeline of Goma

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

19th century

 * 1890s - Goma occupied by agents of the Congo Free State as a trading post to control traffic on Lake Kivu; previously a way point for lake traffic and a crossroads for the overland trade routes between Central Africa and the Indian Ocean.

20th century

 * 1910 - Goma confirmed as a Belgian possession in the Convention on the Lakes signed in Brussels on 14 May 1910 by plenipotentiaries of Belgium, Germany, and Great Britain.
 * 1925 - Albert National Park established near Goma.
 * 1959 - Roman Catholic Diocese of Goma founded.
 * 1962 - Benezeth Moley becomes governor.(fr)
 * 1984 - Population: 77,908.
 * 1988 - Goma becomes part of newly formed North Kivu province.
 * 1993 - University of Goma established.
 * 1994
 * Population: 161,956.
 * July: 850,000 Rwandan war refugees flee to Goma.
 * 1996 - 2 November: Goma taken by Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo.
 * 1998 - 2 August: City taken by forces of Rally for Congolese Democracy–Goma.
 * 2000
 * Yole!Africa cultural centre established.
 * Eugène Serufuli Ngayabaseka becomes governor of North Kivu province.(fr)

21st century

 * 2002 - January: Mount Nyiragongo erupts, destroys nearly half of city structures.
 * 2004 - Population: 249,862 (estimate).
 * 2006
 * (school) founded.
 * Salaam Kivu International Film Festival begins.
 * 2007
 * "New military operations centre for the FARDC" established.
 * Julien Paluku Kahongya becomes governor of North Kivu province.
 * 2008
 * January: International peace conference held in Goma.
 * 15 April: Airplane crash occurs.
 * October: "Chaos grips...Goma as rebel forces advance."
 * 2009
 * August: US secretary of state visits Goma.
 * Roger Rachid Tumbala becomes mayor (approximate date).
 * 2011 - Jean Busanga Malihaseme appointed mayor.
 * 2012
 * July: begins.
 * 20 November: M23 forces take Goma.
 * 12 December: Prison break.
 * Kubuya Ndoole Naso becomes mayor.
 * 2013
 * February: The first annual Amani Festival for peace takes place.
 * 4 March: Airplane crash occurs.
 * August: Heavy fighting occurs outside Goma during the M23 rebellion.
 * 2015
 * January: 2015 Congolese protests.
 * June: Airport taken by "Mai-Mai fighters."
 * Dieudonné Malere becomes mayor.
 * Population: 368,165 (estimate).
 * 2016 - November: United Nations forces attacked by bomb.
 * 2022 - Festival Amani returns after a year's absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.