The African Union (AU) on Sunday strongly condemned the deadly attack that killed scores of people in Somalia's capital Mogadishu on Saturday.
The Chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, condemned in the strongest terms the attack that killed scores of innocent civilians and wounded many more in Mogadishu, said a statement from the pan-African bloc.
The chairperson called on Somalia's leadership to show renewed unity and overcome divisions, and to rebuild cohesion at all levels of the federal institutions.
"Such cohesion is a prerequisite for fulfilling the aspirations of the Somalia people for lasting peace, security and reconciliation," he said.
The chairperson has reaffirmed the commitment of AU, including through the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), to continue its support to the Somali government and people in their efforts to achieve sustainable peace and security.
Mahamat also urged the international community to renew commitment to ensuring a more coordinated and robust international support to Somalia's institutions in their struggle to defeat terrorists groups.
"It is now clear that without adequate and appropriate support to Somalia, many of the security gains made in recent years could be reversed," he said.