Somalia's embattled government has signed a power-sharing agreement with an Islamist militia, Ahlu-Sunnah Wal-Jamaa that is backing its much-awaited military offensives against powerful Islamist insurgency.

The agreement gives Ahlu-Sunnah militia, which holds several towns and districts in central Somalia, five ministerial posts, diplomatic posts as well as senior positions in the police and intelligence services.

Ma'alin Mohammud Sheikh Hassan, the alleged overall chairman, signed the deal for the group while Somali Finance minister Sharif Hassan Sheik Aden represented government side at a ceremony held at the African Union's headquarters in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa.

Mr. Jean Ping, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) and Ahmadou Ould Abdallah, UN special envoy to Somalia, who were among several delegates representing the international community, welcomed the accord and termed it a progress in reconciliation efforts.

Confidential reports that Garowe Online received from Addis says an Ahlu Sunnah official who is tasked with the group's information coordination in Europe, was reportedly barred from attending the ceremony by Ethiopian government after he questioned some elements in the accord.

Political analysts say Sheikh Sharif's government has a keen interest in the pro-government Ahul-Sunnah, which allegedly has the backing of Addis Ababa , but fears its domination once the other Islamist groups are eliminated from the country's political scene.