Goma is the capital and largest city of the North Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Situated in the eastern part of the country, it is located on the northern shore of Lake Kivu. The city shares borders with Rwanda to the east, the Bukumu Chiefdom to the north, and the Masisi Territory to the west.
The city lies within the Albertine Rift, which is the western branch of the East African Rift. It is notably situated only 13–18 km (8.1–11.2 mi) south of the active volcano Mount Nyiragongo. As of 2024, Goma had an approximate area of 75.72 km2 (29.24 sq mi) and a population of 782,000 people, with an additional 500,000 displaced people.