Mombasa to Goma Freight: Shipping Cargo from Kenya to Eastern DRC

Goma is the largest city in North Kivu and a major commercial centre for eastern Congo. Much of what is sold in its markets, built on its construction sites and used by aid and business operations in the region arrives by road from East Africa's ports. Mombasa to Goma freight is one of the main ways those goods get there.

This guide focuses on Goma specifically: how to get cargo from Mombasa to the city, which crossing to use, what documents you need and how to plan for a border that has seen frequent changes.

Where Goma is, and why it matters for freight

Goma lies at the northern tip of Lake Kivu, right on the border with Rwanda. The Rwandan town of Rubavu (formerly Gisenyi) is on the other side. That geography shapes every Goma shipment:

• From Rwanda, the city is only a border crossing away.
• From Uganda, North Kivu can be entered further north and Goma reached by road from there.
• Lake Kivu offers a water connection between Rwandan and Congolese ports.

Two ways from Mombasa to Goma

Both approaches start the same way: the container is discharged at the Kenya Ports Authority (opens in a new tab)'s port of Mombasa, declared for transit and trucked west along the Northern Corridor. On this corridor, transit cargo carries electronic seals monitored by the revenue authorities of Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda under the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (opens in a new tab).

The Rubavu–Goma crossing

For cargo travelling through Rwanda, the last step is the crossing from Rubavu into Goma. There are two well-known border posts between the cities, often called the Grande Barrière and the Petite Barrière. Commercial cargo procedures and opening arrangements can change, so your forwarder should confirm which post and which procedure apply to your shipment.

This border has a history of sudden changes. In 2026, the Goma–Gisenyi border posts were closed on 17 May after an Ebola case was confirmed in Goma, and restrictions were eased about a month later with strict health screening retained (The EastAfrican (opens in a new tab)). Security and political developments in North Kivu have also affected cross-border trade in recent years.

Lake Kivu and Rubavu Port

Rwanda's Ministry of Infrastructure reports that Rubavu Port (opens in a new tab), at the northern end of Lake Kivu, became fully operational in December 2024 and serves as a trade gateway to Goma and North Kivu. For some cargo, combining road transport to Rubavu with lake transport may become a practical option. Ask your forwarder whether it suits your goods.

Customs for Mombasa to Goma freight

Your goods are in transit through Kenya, Uganda and, if used, Rwanda. They are only imported into the DRC:

1. Mombasa. Transit declaration and release from the port.
2. Kenya–Uganda border. Kenyan transit closed, Ugandan transit opened.
3. Uganda–Rwanda border (if routing through Rwanda). Ugandan transit closed, Rwandan transit opened.
4. DRC border. The Goma importer lodges the entry with the DGDA (opens in a new tab), settles what is owed and collects the release.

Our guide on DRC customs clearance for transit cargo explains these steps in more detail.

Documents for Goma shipments

• Bill of lading naming the Goma-based consignee, with the DRC as final destination
• Commercial invoice and packing list
• Transit declarations for each transit country
• The importer's registration details in the DRC
• Permits and certificates for regulated goods
• Any cargo-tracking or pre-shipment documents required for your goods and routing

What moves to Goma

Goma's importers bring in food and consumer goods, construction materials, fuel-related equipment, vehicles and spare parts, and goods for humanitarian operations. Each needs a slightly different plan. Bulky construction materials need attention to truck weights; perishables need speed; humanitarian cargo often comes with exemption documents that must be prepared in advance.

Mombasa to Goma freight: choosing between Rwanda and Uganda

Neither approach is always best. Going through Rwanda keeps the final road short and uses a direct crossing into the city, which suits most containerised cargo when the Rubavu posts are working normally. Entering from Uganda avoids the Rwanda–DRC border entirely and can make sense when that crossing is closed or slow, or when the goods are also destined for towns further north, such as Butembo or Beni. The trade-off is a longer journey inside North Kivu, where road and security conditions need careful checking. A forwarder should weigh both options on the day of dispatch and explain the reasons for the choice.

Practical tips

• Decide the approach late. Choose between Rwanda and Uganda once you know the current situation, not weeks in advance.
• Keep paperwork consistent. The consignee's name and details must match on every document.
• Allow for waiting time. Busy or recently reopened borders can be slow.
• Plan the container's return. The empty box must travel back towards the coast, which takes time on a route this long.
• Insure the goods. A long journey across several borders deserves cargo insurance.

Goma shipments with Haraka Freight

Our team is based in Kigali, a short drive from Rubavu, and transits commodities to Goma. On Mombasa to Goma shipments we handle the port release, trucking along the corridor, transit through Uganda and Rwanda, border coordination at Rubavu and hand-over for DRC clearance. See our Mombasa to DRC logistics service, the wider Mombasa to DRC freight guide and our article on cross-border logistics between Rwanda, the DRC and Burundi.

Conclusion

Mombasa to Goma freight is shaped by geography and by events: Goma sits right on the Rwandan border, but that border can change quickly. Plan the approach close to dispatch, keep the cargo correctly in transit until the DRC, and work with a team that watches the border every day. To get started, request a quote.

Sources: The EastAfrican (2026) (opens in a new tab); Rwanda Ministry of Infrastructure, Rubavu Port (opens in a new tab); World Customs Organization, RECTS (opens in a new tab); Kenya Ports Authority (opens in a new tab); DGDA (opens in a new tab).

Published 2 October 2026 · Last updated 2 October 2026

Haraka Freight International Logistics Team

Haraka Freight International Ltd is a logistics company based at Ituze House, KG 11 Avenue, Bibare, Kigali, Rwanda. We handle freight forwarding, customs clearance, IOR/EOR and DDP shipments, warehousing, trucking and regional distribution in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi, with transit cargo to Goma and Bukavu.