"Today, at 10:00 [09:00 in Lisbon], the terrorists started to vandalize stores in the headquarters town of Macomia and to distribute rice, oil, soap, and other basic necessities, a good part of the population that benefited is from Mucojo", described a source from the local population, from his hiding place.

The population added that part of the stores that are in the center of the town, under attack by the terrorist group since the early hours of Friday, were vandalized and the products taken. While distributing the looted food products, the insurgents discourage the population from fleeing to the forests.

"They asked the population not to flee because they have no intention of killing anyone. But we don't believe it", said the source.

Part of the products looted in the local stores were also transported to an uncertain location by the insurgents, using motorcycles from the population.

"They took some products to the forests and are using means from the population, mostly motorcycles", explained another local source.

According to the description made to Lusa by the locals, around 12:00 local time (11:00 in Lisbon) today, the insurgents remained in Macomia, with shots being heard until then throughout the town.

"The situation is not good, the town is in absolute silence, you can only hear the noise of motorcycles and drones that they themselves are using", described a source from the forests of Macomia.

"We have access to the town, but I haven't been there yet. People are going there, taking food and coming back and I know that the houses are intact", he also described.

The Ministry of National Defense confirmed on Friday a "terrorist attack", during the early hours of the morning, on the town of Macomia, ensuring that one of the group's leaders was injured by the Armed Forces of Defense of Mozambique (FADM) and another killed.

"The attack lasted about 45 minutes and the terrorists were promptly repelled by the coordinated action of our forces, which forced the enemy to retreat, towards the interior of the administrative post of Mucojo", reads a statement from the Ministry of National Defense.

It adds that the attack occurred around 4:45 local time (3:45 in Lisbon) and that, in the "confrontation", the FADM "captured a terrorist and injured one of the leaders, known as 'Issa', who managed to escape, with no record of deaths or injuries on the part of the Armed Forces".

"Later, the captured terrorist died from serious injuries", it reads.

The President of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, had already confirmed, at the end of the morning of Friday, this attack on the district headquarters of Macomia, explaining that it happened in an area previously controlled by the military of the mission of the countries of southern Africa, which is gradually withdrawing until July.

"It is true that it is an area occupied by our brothers who support us, in retreat. But those who are on the ground are 100% Mozambicans. Maybe there could be a reinforcement (...). As they are leaving. I hope that we can organize ourselves better, because the transition time allows for that", he recognized, praising the ongoing intervention of the Mozambican military.

The shootings in the district headquarters began during the early hours of the morning, with the rebels appearing in the center of the town, coming from the Mucojo road, local sources reported to Lusa early on Friday morning.

They also indicated that the district headquarters town of Macomia was occupied by more than a hundred insurgents.

The town of Macomia is located on National Road 1 (N1), which connects to the northernmost districts, such as Muidumbe, Nangade, Mueda, Mocimboa da Praia and Palma, so this attack also interrupts land communication to the five districts.

The province has been facing an armed rebellion since October 2017 with attacks claimed by movements associated with the extremist group Islamic State.

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