So this is why Obama has seemed a little distracted on the campaign trail lately: He's been helping negotiate a peace deal in Niger... and it's working. From the AP:

Rebels who have stepped up attacks on Nigeria's oil industry in the last month said on Sunday they were considering a ceasefire appeal by U.S. presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

"The MEND command is seriously considering a temporary ceasefire appeal by Senator Barack Obama. Obama is someone we respect and hold in high esteem," the militant group said in an e-mailed statement.

MEND did not say when or where Obama, the leading candidate for the Democratic ticket for November's U.S. presidential election, made the appeal. It said it hoped the government would use any ceasefire to improve conditions for its detained leader, Henry Okah.

In January he performed some similar behind-the-scenes brokering in Kenya after contested election results led to instability and riots.

The guy hasn't even won his party's nomination yet and he's more respected around the world than our current president.