According to sources, the insurgents left the village of Macomia, which they had occupied since Friday morning, around 2:00 p.m. (1:00 p.m. in Lisbon) today, heading towards the administrative post of Mucojo, motivating the residents' return.

"As we speak, we are on our way home, we heard that the rebels left and went towards the village of Mucojo," reported a popular, who in the last 24 hours was in a hiding place in the woods.

The source said he did not know if houses were destroyed during the insurgents' incursion, but confirmed the vandalization of stores and the subsequent removal of food products that were distributed to the population.

The Ministry of National Defense confirmed on Friday a "terrorist attack" during the early hours of the morning, to the village of Macomia, ensuring that one of the group's leaders was injured by the Defense Armed Forces of Mozambique (FADM) and another was 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 happened around 4:45 a.m. local time (3:45 a.m. 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 of serious injuries", it reads.

The President of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, had already confirmed, at the end of Friday morning, 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 southern African countries, which is in progressive withdrawal 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 we can organize ourselves better, because the transition time allows for that", he acknowledged, 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 village, coming from the Mucojo road, local sources reported to Lusa early on Friday morning.

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

The village of Macomia is located on National Road 1 (N1), which connects to the northernmost districts, such as Muidumbe, Nangade, Mueda, Mocímboa 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.

Read Also: Mozambique. Terrorists vandalize and loot stores in Macomia (Portuguese version)