Timeline of Bukavu

20th century

1924 - Bukavu becomes part of the newly formed administrative Province Orientale in colonial Belgian Congo.<sup>()</sup>
1925 - Seat of relocated to Bukavu from Rutshuru.
1927 - Bukavu renamed "Costermansville" after Belgian colonial official Paul Costermans.
1929 - Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Kivu established.
1927 - Zoological and Forest Reserve of Mount Kahuzi established near Costermansville.
1938 - founded by Catholic PÃÂ¨res Blancs.
1942 - Catholic, Swahili-French language Hodi newspaper begins publication.
1951
Catholic Our Lady of Peace Cathedral built.
Bushi Football Club founded.
1953
Costermansville renamed "Bukavu."
La Presse Africaine newspaper begins publication.
1958 - Bukavu attains city status.
1961
Denis Maganga Igomokelo becomes mayor.
(school) established.
1967 - 9 August: City taken by rebel Katangan forces.
1970 - Kahuzi-BiÃÂ©ga National Park established near city.
1975 - Population: 146,504 (estimate).
1984 - Population: 167,950 (estimate).
1989 - City becomes part of the newly formed South Kivu province.
1993 - begins broadcasting.
1994
Rwandan war refugees flee to Bukavu.
Population: 201,569 (estimate).
1996 - October: City taken by Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo.
1999 - Panzi Hospital established.
2000 - Congolese war refugees arrive in Bagira.

2004 - MayÃ¢ÂÂJune: Violent conflict between rebel and national forces.
2007 - 13 June: Journalist killed.
2008
3 February: 2008 Lake Kivu earthquake.
22 November: Mass graves found on land owned by Rally for Congolese Democracy party member.
Zita Kavungirwa Kayange becomes mayor.
OC Bukavu Dawa wins Coupe du Congo football contest.
2010
17 October: Women demonstrate "to demand an end to a wave of mass rapes."
becomes governor of South Kivu province.
2012 - 12 February: Airplane carrying politicians crashes in Bukavu; killed.
2014
February: Political rally; crackdown.
5 June: Prison break occurs.
2015
January: 2015 Congolese protests.
August: 2015 South Kivu earthquake
Population: 295,665 (estimate).
Saveur du Kivu coffee event begins.
Lusenda refugee camp begins operating in vicinity of Bukavu.
2017
28 July: Prison break occurs.
August: Cholera outbreak.
2022
2022 Bukavu floods
2025
February: 2025 Bukavu offensive