The African Union (AU) holds its 13semiannual summit Wednesday in Libya's coastal city, Sirte. Libyan leaderMoammar Gadhafi, who is the current chairman of the continental body,is hosting the meeting.
The conference theme is "investment in agriculture foreconomic growth".
"Whatthe African leadership is trying to do is to recommit themselves to a veryfundamental, very crucial issue on the continent. An issue that affects the bulkof their citizenry is food security," said Andrew Kanyegirire, communications director of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).
SomeAfrican heads of state were reportedly boycotting the summit to protest theleadership of Gadhafi, who has been described as a dictator after coming to powerthrough a bloodless coup d'état in 1969.
ButKanyegirire said there are no clear indications that the leaders wereboycotting the summit because of Gadhafi's leadership.
"Thoseare things that I have possibly heard in corridors. There is no factualevidence to say that this particular leader stayed away because of theleadership of the host country," Kanyegirire said.
Hesaid NEPAD encourages solidarity among countries on the continent.
"Asan institution, we feel very strongly about issues to deal with unity andintegration," he said.
Kanyegirire said it is unfortunate there are those who say the time is not ripefor the AU's agenda for politically integrating the continent.
"Thereare some civil society organizations, private sector elements? and even leaderswho feel that maybe this process is going a bit too quickly in terms ofintegration," Kanyegirire said.
Hesaid that there is unanimity, however, among many African leaders for unity andintegration.
"Ithink there is continental commitment. The question is time processes andprocedures. There is genuine commitment across the board," he said.
Kanyegiriresaid the African Union frowns upon coups d'etat, adding that the age ofmilitary takeovers are going out of style.