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At least one person died and two people, including a civilian, were injured after pirates from the Fatxi group fought each other over money in Hobyo in Somalia's Mudug region late on Sunday, according to pirates and residents who spoke to Somalia Report.
A resident from Hobyo, Ahmed Shiekh, explained gunfire was involved.
"On Sunday evening two groups of pirates fought in Hobyo. At first two pirates talked to each other and then began arguing and one demanded money. After that one shot the other and immediately fighting broke out between the two groups,” the eye witnesses told Somalia Report.
A local pirate also confirmed the fight.
“At least one pirate died and another two were injured including one lady from the city," a pirate based in Hobyo told Somalia Report.
After fighting began residents fled to their homes to avoid the gunfire, according to locals.
In order to determine the cause of the fight, Somalia Report contacted the Fatxi Group for more information.
“The conflict was old and dates back to November 2011 when a pirate gave some of his ransom money to his friend. Both pirates are from the same group. Last month the man who loaned the money needed it back but the other one refused to pay when they met in Hobyo yesterday. When he refused, the other pirate shot him,” said a pirate from Fatxi group.
“The money was ransom of MV SAMHO DREAM which pirates released in November last year after they got $9.5 million,” added the pirate.
The situation in Hobyo is now calm, but still the residents fear fighting could break out again at anytime.
The Fatxi Group is a well known pirate group in Mudug region and most of the group's pirates hail from the Sacad clan (Hawiye). The two pirates who shot to each other on Sunday are from Nimcaale clan, a subclan of Sacad clan. The leader of this group is Fatxi, while Xayle Hurde is a commander and their investor is Laaye. Currently the group is holding the MV LEOPARD hostages - four Filipinos and two Danish men - on land in the Hobyo area.
The relationships among pirates in this group are fragile and have been marked by in-fighting in the past. In April of this year, the same group fought over same hostages after disagreeing on a ransom amount.