In this regard, Qandala would be a convenient target, as Mumin's clan lived near the town, and the conquest of a significant settlement as well as the proclamation of an Islamic region in the whole of Africa could gain him more local support and sympathizers.

Thereupon 60 ISS militants entered the town and captured it without further fighting, hoisting their flag on top of the police station[12][13] and the building where Ali Fahiye Gedi had been imprisoned.

[6] Even though the jihadists tried to reassure the local population by telling them "don't panic, we will rule you according to the Islamic sharia (law)",[13] Qandala's elders asked them to leave, to which the militants insisted that "they are not going anywhere".

[7] On the next day, Qandala's schools closed, and for the first time in the town's history, thousands of its residents fled by boat and on foot to Bosaso,[6][14][15] while the Puntland Maritime Police Force deployed several gunboats to intercept any shipments by militant groups from Yemen.

[4] On 18 December, Puntland police forces reportedly attacked and destroyed an ISS base at El Ladid, a village 30 kilometers south of Qandala, where the rebels were regrouping after their retreat.