IS-linked fighters seize small Somalia port for a day

James Archibald / Cape Town, Oct 29 (DHA) - A group of several dozen armed fighters reportedly linked to Islamic State (IS) took control of a small port town in Somalia yesterday morning, but have since retreated ahead of planned efforts by the military to retake control of the town.

The town of Qandala, in the semi-autonomous Puntland region in the north of Somalia, was overrun by more than 50 militants yesterday morning in what was a peaceful takeover. A video circulating on Twitter showed armed men walking through the town and hoisting a flag over an administrative building. Some of the militants were seen shaking hands with a local man as they passed by.

Local news site Garowe Online this morning reported residents as confirming that the militants left at around midnight, though they were not able to say where they were headed. The retreat took place as the Puntland government was preparing military operations to take back the town.

Garowe Online said the Isis branch was officially formed in October last year by former Al Shabaab commander Abdulqadr Mumin and that this was the first time that the group had been able to take control of any substantive territory in Somalia.

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