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.^[1]
1925 - Albert National Park established near Goma.
1959 - Roman Catholic Diocese of Goma founded.^[2]
1962 - Benezeth Moley becomes governor.^(fr)
1984 - Population: 77,908.^[3]
1988 - Goma becomes part of newly formed North Kivu province.^{[citation needed]}
1993 - University of Goma established.
1994
- Population: 161,956.^[4]
- July: 850,000 Rwandan war refugees flee to Goma.^[4]^[5]
1996 - 2 November: Goma taken by Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo.^[5]
1998 - 2 August: City taken by forces of Rally for Congolese Democracy–Goma.^[4]
2000
- Yole!Africa cultural centre established.^[6]
- Eugène Serufuli Ngayabaseka becomes governor of North Kivu province.^(fr)

2002 - January: Mount Nyiragongo erupts, destroys nearly half of city structures.^[7]
2004 - Population: 249,862 (estimate).^[3]
2006
- Institut supérieur de statistique et de nouvelles technologies de Goma [fr] (school) founded.
- Salaam Kivu International Film Festival begins.^[6]
2007
- "New military operations centre for the FARDC" established.^[8]
- Julien Paluku Kahongya becomes governor of North Kivu province.
2008
- January: International peace conference held in Goma.^[9]
- 15 April: Airplane crash occurs.
- October: "Chaos grips...Goma as rebel forces advance."^[7]
2009
- August: US secretary of state visits Goma.^[7]
- Roger Rachid Tumbala becomes mayor (approximate date).^{[chronology citation needed]}
2011 - Jean Busanga Malihaseme appointed mayor.^[10]
2012
- July: Battle of Goma (2012) [fr] begins.
- 20 November: M23 forces take Goma.^[7]
- 12 December: Prison break.^[4]
- Kubuya Ndoole Naso becomes mayor.^[11]
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."^[12]
- Dieudonné Malere becomes mayor.^[13]
- Population: 368,165 (estimate).^[4]
2016 - November: United Nations forces attacked by bomb.^[14]
2022 - Festival Amani returns after a year's absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[15]
2025
- January: Battle of Goma.