New Delhi, Nov. 1 -- The landlocked West African nation of Mali is being squeezed by a weekslong blockade on fuel imports imposed by jihadi militants, an unusual strategy as the insurgent threat grows across the region.

The government announced school closures, embassies ordered citizens to evacuate and citizens have gone hours without power. The blockade has been a major setback for Mali's military junta in a country that relies on fuel imports from neighboring Senegal and Ivory Coast.

As the blockade approaches its third month, here's what to know:

Militants imposed the blockade to fight back against the military

Mali, a country of 25 million people, has battled jihadi militants for several decades, alongside neighboring Burkina Fas...