Somalia

Somali pirates have released the seized Bangladeshi cargo ship MV Abdullah after receiving a $5 million ransom from the ship's owners.

Russia is facing difficulties in mobilizing troops, which is leading to increased agitation and recruitment of citizens from poor countries as mercenaries to fight against Ukraine, and to date Ukraine has captured more than 11,000 such mercenaries.

Ukraine has captured mercenaries from Somalia, Sierra Leone, Cuba, and Nepal, and a significant number of Indian citizens are fighting on the side of Russia, according to a Ukrainian official.

Five militants, including a Somali sniper, were sentenced to 15 years in prison for participating in hostilities against Ukrainian forces on the side of russian-backed separatists.

The Turkish Navy will assume responsibility for the protection of Somalia's territorial waters over the next 10 years under a new agreement on defense and economic cooperation between Turkey and Somalia.

This year's first vessel under the Grain From Ukraine initiative with 25,000 tons of Ukrainian wheat for Nigeria sailed through the Ukrainian Black Sea corridor as humanitarian aid.

In 2023, Ukraine was ranked 104th out of 180 countries in the Global Corruption Perceptions Index, improving its position by 3 points and receiving 36 points out of 100. Over the past 10 years since the Revolution of Dignity, Ukraine has added 11 points, the largest increase among the current EU candidate countries.