In a statement released by the Egyptian foreign ministry on Monday, Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid expressed his condolences to the government and people of Somalia and the families of the victims, wishing a speedy recovery to the wounded.

Abu Zeid reiterated “Egypt’s firm stance that condemns such abhorrent terrorist acts, whatever their forms or motives might be.”

He urged for more concerted efforts by the international community to uproot terrorism, and dry up its sources of funding and support, the statement added.

On Sunday, an explosives-packed car exploded at the gates of the Tawakal hotel in Kismayo, followed by gunmen who stormed the hotel.

The Somali security forces placed the hotel – popular as a meeting place for Somali government officials – under siege and killed the attackers, according to news wires.

The Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Ahead of deadly attack, a meeting was being held at the hotel to discuss plans to fight the group, Farah Mohamed, a security officer, said in remarks to Reuters.

The group has claimed responsibility for several attacks in the Horn of Africa recently.