ISIL militants still in control of Qandala-Puntland government

An ISIL surrogate group is still maintaining its grip on the ancient port town of Qandala in Somalia’s east contrary to earlier reports the fighters had voluntarily withdrawn, Puntland government has confirmed.

Speaking during a reconciliation meeting in Armo district, some 150 kilometres north of Puntland administrative capital Garowe, Puntland president Adiwali Gaas said his forces were arming up to retake the town.

Gaas however sensationally pointed finger at the Federal Government for what he suggested was its complicity in the fall of Qandala to the ISIL group. “Federal Government, Al-Shabaab and ISIS are behind what going in Qandala, but our troops will go there and take the town from the terrorists” claimed Gaas.

Puntland security forces have been preparing since Wednesday to assault Qandala but because of mountainous and difficult roads failed to make progress.

Militants switched off telephone lines in Qandala and only activated limited times for their usage, since Wednesday morning, but reporters managed on Thursday to reach some of the residents, who confirmed the presence of ISIS affiliates in town.

ISIL mouth piece in the Middle East Amaq Magazine claimed Wednesday Islamic State forces in Somalia had taken control of Qandala.