Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko announced a proposed law on Tuesday, February 24, to significantly toughen penalties for homosexual relations in the West African nation. Addressing deputies, Sonko declared that "Any person who has committed an act against nature will be punished with imprisonment of five to ten years," effectively doubling the current prison sentences, which range from one to five years. This legislative project, which still requires a vote by the deputies, emerges as Senegal, a predominantly Muslim country, has experienced a recent surge in arrests of individuals, including celebrities, on suspicion of homosexuality. The government aims to reinforce existing laws against these acts.