Al-Shabaab, a Somali insurgent group with links to al-Qaeda, has been added to the federal government's terrorist list following claims that the organization is targeting Canadian youth.

The federal government has added Al-Shabaab to its list of terrorist groups. Al-Shabaab is headed by Hizbul Islam, in white cap, seen in February. (Mohamed Sheikn Nor/Associated Press)

The designation comes as members of the Somali community have reported that the group is trying to radicalize and recruit young Canadians, according to officials at Public Safety Canada.

On the ministry’s website, the government describes the organization as an "Islamist group dedicated to establishing a Somali caliphate, waging jihad against the enemies of Islam, and removing all foreign forces and Western influence from Somalia."

"It is today the strongest, best organized, financed and armed military group in Somalia, and it controls the largest stretch of territory in Southern Somalia," the government says.

According to the government, the group attacks by using suicide bombings, landmines and remote-controlled roadside bombs. It says the group also engages in targeted assassinations against Ethiopian and Somali security forces, other government officials, journalists and civil society leaders.

Ahmed Hussen, the president of the Canadian Somali Congress, said despite its brutality, the group restores law and order to people who have been without it for 20 years.

"The first thing they do when they take over an area is that they at least provide security. And that security is very, very attractive," he said.

The listing means that all persons in Canada and every Canadian abroad are prohibited from knowingly dealing with assets owned or controlled by the group, or knowingly participating in or contributing to the organization.

Last week, Britain designated the group a terrorist organization.

With files from The Canadian Press