This week, the government of Southern Sudan, a region that has been involved in decades of civil war that ended in 2005, gave everyone quite a shock when it revealed a $10.1 billion plan to build new urban centers in all ten of its state capitals. The “$10.1 billion” part dropped open quite a few jaws, but even more surprise was evoked when officials revealed the plans for the cities — all of which will be shaped like animals or fruits. [SButtonZ button="digg"]

According to VOANews, the animal shapes have a lofty purpose:

The $10.1 billion plan proposes remaking cities in Sudan’s south into shapes found on regional flags.  Blueprints and maps illustrate Juba in the shape of a rhinoceros, Yambio fashioned after a pineapple and Wau as a giraffe.

The Undersecretary for Housing and Physical Planning, Daniel Wani, says he hopes the plans will demonstrate the housing ministry’s desire to think creatively about how to remake southern Sudan for the future.

Certainly urban renewal and development are vital for a region trying to overcome a long history of war and rampant corruption. And innovation is also a crucial aspect of modern urban planning — and one that Sudanese officials are clearly trying to demonstrate, particularly since Southern Sudan’s total annual budget for 2010 is less than $2 billion, meaning the ministry needs to rely on private financing for the rest.

But at the end of the day, trying too hard to demonstrate innovation can backfire, and wind up drawing attention away from even more important factors — like eliminating massive slums and basic infrastructure problems in the region. And what about the government apathy and incompetence that led to billions of dollars lost to corruption and poor management since the end of the war? Sparkling new cities, assuming they get completed, will certainly put forth an image of renewal — but whether they substantially improve the lives of the average Sudanese citizen remains to be seen.

Tags: Civil War, Sudan, Trying too hard?