3. Members shall serve in their personal capacity and not as representatives of their respective Governments. They shall neither seek nor receive instructions from any authority external to the APR Forum. 4. The APR Panel and its individual members shall observe the utmost discretion and confidentiality with regard to all matters relating to the peer review process, both while they serve on the APR Panel and thereafter. 5. Members of the APR Panel will serve for up to four (4) years and will retire by rotation. In exceptional circumstances, the APR Forum may renew the term of members of the APR Panel for a period of not more than one additional year. 6. The APR Forum may terminate the appointment of any member of the APR Panel on the basis of non-performance, conduct or conflict of interest. 7. The APR Panel shall be led by a Chairperson and a Vice Chairperson selected from among the members of the APR Panel and appointed by the APR Forum. The powers and functions of the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the APR Panel shall be defined in the Rules of Procedure of the Panel and Forum. 8. The term of office of the Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson of the APR Panel shall be one year, and shall be non-renewable. 9. The APR Panel shall hold up to four ordinary sessions a year. 10. The APR Panel may hold such additional special meetings as may be required for the effective implementation of the APRM review process. 11. The APR Panel may form Sub-Committees as are required for the execution of its mandate. 12. The APR Panel shall be directly responsible and report to the APR Forum. 13. The APR Panel shall submit reports on its activities to the APR Forum at least twice a year. Statute of the African Peer Review Mechanism, August 2016V11082016 15