African leaders who founded the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) tussled with Libyan leader and the African Union Chairman, Muammar Kadhafi, over his proposal to disband a key NEPAD committee.

The Libyan leader proposed the disbandment of the Heads of State Implementing Committee, founded by Algeria, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa and leaving the NEPAD programmes entirely in the hands of the African Union.

The Libyan leader opposed the presence of two offices, one in South Africa and a nother in Addis Ababa and suggested that the NEPAD plan was an idea introduced by former US President George W. Bush, which should now be disbanded.

'The issue of disbanding the Heads of State Implementing Committee or the NEPAD programmes raised so much heat during the discussions,' a reliable source told PANA.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who chaired the discussions on the NEPAD programmes is understood to have told the Libyan leader that the African leaders wanted to retain full control of the activities of NEPAD.

Algeria, Nigeria, South Africa and Senegal, whose leaders founded NEPAD in 2000, opposed the proposal to disband the Heads of State Committee.

Kadhafi argued that having two offices for NEPAD was duplication of duties and tantamount to having two secretariats operated by the AU.

The 22nd Heads of State Implementing Committee Summit was attended by Kadhafi, the Chairperson of the AU Commission Chairperson, Jean Ping, the Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and South Africa's Jacob Zuma.

The Senegalese President, Abdoulaye Wade, Malawi's President Bingu wa Mutharika, Namibia's Hifikepunye Pohamba, Lesotho Prime Minister Bethuel Pakalitha Mosisili and ministers of foreign affairs of the NEPAD, attended the meeting.

Prime Minister Zenawi pointed out that the objective of the meeting was to consider vital issues with regard to the integration of NEPAD into the African Union (AU) structures and processes.

He said the integration of NEPAD into the AU structures has been under discussion for a long time, calling on his peers to consider that this was the last summit to settle any pending issues in order to embark on the implementation of the integration agenda.

Zenawi highlighted some of the achievements in the process of integrating NEPAD, including the creation of a NEPAD Coordination Unit in the office of the AUC Chairperson.

This Unit, the HSGIC Chairperson said, has already commenced the process of recruitment of staff and once completed, it will formerly be established and assume the role and responsibilities of the current NEPAD Coordinating Unit in the Department of Economic Affairs of the African Union Commission.

Ping recalled that both the AUC and NEPAD have been working together following the conclusions of the 21st NEPAD HSGIC so as to ensure a smooth integration process of the NEPAD into the AU structures.

He explained that efforts have been made to harmonize the work programmes of the AUC and NEPAD Secretariat in order to identify overlaps, foster a clear delineation of roles and promote joint efforts.

A report analyzing and proposing areas of joint collaboration has been prepared as well as harmonization of future partnership support.

He reiterated the AUC's commitment to ensure that the various decisions of the AU Assembly on the integration of NEPAD are fully implemented.

The floor was given to the Foreign Minister of Canada, Lawrence Cannon, future host of the G8 and G20 summits, to address the state of preparedness of his country.

Cannon expressed satisfaction with the existing bilateral relationship between Canada and AU member states, saying, there is need to reinforce the cooperation ties so that Canada can fully contribute to the development of the African continent.

The heads of state further considered the activity report of the NEPAD Secretariat, presented by the Chief Executive Officer of NEPAD, Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, for the period of July 2009 to January 2010.

NEPAD Implementing Committee is made up of 20 member countries.

These include: Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan and Tunisia.