Iraqi Kurdistan: Barzani’s last goodbye?

President Massoud Barzani has endured a humiliating month, following the Iraqi federal government’s swift and ruthless response to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)’s 25 September referendum on independence for the Kurdish-speaking region and also (fatally) other disputed territory held by Peshmerga forces. This culminated in the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader’s offer on 25 October to freeze the referendum result he had campaigned so hard for. Just four days later, on 29 October, Barzani effectively submitted his resignation, refusing to continue as president