Puntland preparing to retake Qandala coastal town from ISIS

**Puntland security forces listen to their commander in Garowe. [Photo: Puntland Mirror]**

Garowe-(Puntland Mirror) Somalia’s Puntland government has announced that it is preparing to retake Qandala coastal town from ISIS militants, Qandala’s mayor said.

“We and our forces left Bosaso today with the intention to capture to Qandala, which is now only 100 km (60 miles) away from us. We shall keep on moving until we liberate the town,” Qandala’s mayor, Jama Mohamed Khurshe told Reuters News Agency.

Similarly, speaking to Radio Daljir last week, the vice president of Puntland Abdihakim Omar Amay has vowed to liberate Qandala from the ISIS militants.

More than 700 of Qandala residents have fled their homes, fearing a new fight between Puntland armed forces and pro-ISIS militants.

Last month, more than 50 pro-ISIS militants led by ex-Al-Shabab leader Abdikadir Mumin had captured Qandala coastal town of Bari region, and the town is still under the ISIS control.