Burundi was torn by ethnic conflict between majority Hutus and minority Tutsi, much like its northern neighbour Rwanda, site of the 1994 genocide, for nearly five decades after it became independent from Belgium in 1962.

“You have been determined to move beyond the turbulence of recent decades, and the results are clear,” citing the example of the recent round of elections, Mr. Ban said upon arriving in the capital, Bujumbura.

More than 3.5 million people registered to vote in the five-stage polls, exceeding expectations, with 17 presidential candidates - 15 aligned with parties and two independents - taking part.

The top United Nations envoy praised the peaceful staging of the first round of elections, welcoming the high turnout.

The Secretary-General, who arrived in Burundi from South Africa, also noted today that “this is a great moment for Africa,” which is both hosting the soccer World Cup and is home to more than one dozen countries celebrating half a century of independence. Burundi will mark its 50th anniversary of independence in 2012.

While in the country, he will hold talks with President Pierre Nkurunziza, members of the national assembly, leaders of political parties, electoral commission officials and representatives of civil society, including religious and women's groups.

Mr. Ban will also meet with members of the UN Integrated Office in Burundi (BINUB) and visit a battalion serving in Somalia in an “important Burundian contribution to peace.”

The progress made in the country - which is on the UN Peacebuilding Commission's agenda - “is first and foremost a Burundian achievement,” he said, but emphasized that progress also rests largely on its strong partnership with the UN and others.

This is the Secretary-General's second trip to Africa this month, and it will also take him to Cameroon, Benin and Sierra Leone.

Last week, he visited Malawi and Uganda, and later in June he will travel to Gabon, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where a UN peacekeeping mission - known as MONUC - has been in operation for 11 years.

Last month, the Security Council agreed to transform the operation into a stabilization mission in the coming weeks, authorizing the withdrawal of up to 2,000 UN military personnel by 30 June from areas where security has improved enough to allow their removal.