Chapter 7 Article 8 Continental Structure 1. At the continental level, the APRM shall comprise: a. an APR Forum composed of the Heads of State and Government of Participating States; b. an APRM Focal Points Committee composed of the national Focal Points of Participating States; c. an APR Panel of Eminent Persons composed of a minimum of five and a maximum of nine Africans appointed by the APR Forum; and d. an APRM Continental Secretariat led by a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) appointed by the APR Forum. 2. The continental governing bodies of the APRM provided in paragraph (1) above shall operate independently of, but in close collaboration with, AU organs, institutions, bodies and structures. Article 9 The APR Forum 1. The APR Forum comprises the Heads of State and Government of Participating States. 2. The APR Forum is the supreme decision-making organ of the APRM. 3. The APR Forum shall have the authority to take decisions on all matters under any of the APRM instruments in accordance with the specific requirements for decision-making in this Statute and other relevant instruments. Statute of the African Peer Review Mechanism, August 2016V11082016 11