2. A member of the Commission who is re-elected to a new term of office which is continuous with his/her previous term shall retain his/her precedence. Rule 7 Incompatibility 1. The position of member of the Commission is incompatible with any activity that might interfere with the independence or impartiality of such a member or demands of the office such as a member of government, a Minister or under-secretary of State, a diplomatic representative, a director of a ministry, or one of his subordinates, or the legal adviser to a foreign office or any other political binding function or participate in any activity of the nature that will compromise the independence and impartiality. 2. The Bureau of the Commission shall ensure that the requirements in Rule 7(1) above are enforced in accordance with Articles 31(1 & 2) and 39(2) of the African Charter. 3. In the case of incompatibility, the Chairperson of the Commission shall inform the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, who shall declare the seat vacant. Rule 8 Cessation of function 1. If in the unanimous opinion of the other members of the Commission, a member has stopped discharging his or her duty for any reason other than temporary absence, the Chairperson of the Commission shall inform the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, who shall declare the seat vacant. 8 Part One : General Rules 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. A member of the Commission may resign from his or her position at any time. He or she shall do so through a written notification addressed to the Chairperson of the Commission who shall transmit it to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission. The resignation shall take effect three months from the date of submission of the letter of resignation. The Chairperson of the African Union Commission shall upon receipt of the notification, declare the seat vacant. The vacancy shall be effective from the date the resignation takes effect. In the case of death of a member of the Commission, the Chairperson shall immediately inform the Chairperson of the African Union Commission who shall declare the seat vacant from the date of the death. Every seat declared vacant in conformity with the present Rule shall be filled in accordance with paragraph 3 of Article 39 of the African Charter. Rule 9 Solemn declaration In conformity with Article 38 of the African Charter, before assuming office, every member of the Commission shall make the following solemn declaration at a public sitting of the Commission: “I solemnly undertake to carry out my duties well and faithfully in all impartiality.”