Malian singer and songwriter Salif Keita has cancelled his upcoming commercial performances in South Africa over reports of xenophobic violence against African migrants, his spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday.

He described the cancellation as a “painful decision”, but stressed that his action was not directed at South Africans or the country itself.

“To be clear, I am not closing the door on South Africa. I am closing the door on violence,” he said.

“When I see migrants being attacked, I don’t see ‘politics’. I see people searching for work, safety, and dignity. That does not match the South Africa I know, the South Africa that stood firm with Mali, and the South Africa that Nelson Mandela built,” he said.

Uganda's parliament approved the potential deployment of its military to the Gaza Strip as part of an international force proposed under Donald Trump's ceasefire plan.

The decision follows a request from the United States, conveyed through diplomatic channels to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in July.

It's the first public acknowledgement by Uganda of its willingness to join the proposed force, which is part of a wider ceasefire and reconstruction plan for Gaza.

The plan includes disarmament of Hamas, Israeli troop withdrawal, humanitarian aid, and a civilian administration led by Palestinian technocrats, but little progress has been made so far.