Timeline of Goma

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.

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.<sup>()</sup>
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 DemocracyÃ¢ÂÂGoma.
2000
Yole!Africa cultural centre established.https://yoleafrica.org
EugÃÂ¨ne Serufuli Ngayabaseka becomes governor of North Kivu province.<sup>()</sup>

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.https://yoleafrica.org/ciff/
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).https://www.radiookapi.net/regions/nord-kivu/2010/12/13/poursuite-de-l%25e2%2580%2599operation-%25e2%2580%25b9-destruction-des-constructions-anarchiques%25e2%2580%25ba
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."
DieudonnÃÂ© 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.
2025
January: Battle of Goma.