Goma
Goma is the capital of North Kivu Province in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is located on the northern shore of Lake Kivu, next to the Rwandan city of Gisenyi. It is part of the Albertine Rift, the western branch of the East African Rift System, and lies only 13–18 km (8.1–11.2 mi) south of the active Nyiragongo Volcano. Encompassing approximately 75.72 square kilometers, the city has an estimated population of nearly 2 million people according to the 2022 census, while the 1984 estimate placed the number at 80,000.
Goma | |
|---|---|
Provincial capital and city | |
| Ville de Goma | |
Goma, November 2022 | |
Goma Location in the Congo | |
| Coordinates: 01°40′46″S 29°14′01″E | |
| Country | DR Congo |
| Province | North Kivu |
| Communes | Goma, Karisimbi |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Timothée Mwisa Kyese |
| Area | |
| • City | 75.72 km2 (29.24 sq mi) |
| Population (2021) | |
| • Metro | 670,000 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (CAT) |
| National language | Swahili |
| Climate | Aw |
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 5,000 | — |
| 1960 | 16,000 | +220.0% |
| 1970 | 49,000 | +206.2% |
| 1980 | 68,000 | +38.8% |
| 1990 | 111,000 | +63.2% |
| 2000 | 198,000 | +78.4% |
| 2010 | 355,000 | +79.3% |
| 2018 | 566,000 | +59.4% |
| 2019 | 599,000 | +5.8% |
| 2020 | 634,000 | +5.8% |
| 2021 | 670,000 | — |
Goma is densely populated, with two health zones (Goma and Karisimbi) comprising 10 and 19 Health Areas, respectively. The city consists of two urban municipalities divided into eleven administrative districts. Notable landmarks include Goma International Airport, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Virunga National Park, which is home to endangered mountain gorillas, the private Christian co-educational school Adventist University of Goma, and the significant public institution University of Goma. The city also hosts the Université libre des Pays de Grand Lac, which supports local development initiatives.
The recent history of Goma has been dominated by the volcano and the Rwandan genocide of 1994, which in turn fueled the First and Second Congo Wars. The aftermath of these events was still having effects on the city and its surroundings in 2010. The city was captured by rebels of the March 23 Movement during the M23 rebellion in late 2012, but it has since been retaken by government forces.
Goma is the home of the annual Amani Festival which celebrates peace and in 2020 it attracted an audience of 36,000.