Buildings tell us a great deal. The top photograph is a view of Khartoum, showing Friendship Hall and some of the new buildings in Mogran.

This represents just the beginning of the ambitious Mogran development, by the Alsunut corporation, which compares its vision to Dubai. The image at left is taken from its publicity, which promises that this represents “the future of Khartoum.”

Meanwhile, two images from Darfur illustrate what Darfurians have in mind when they ask, “are we part of Sudan?” and suggest that the most important component of justice for Darfur is equitable distribution of resources. The first image is from an IDP camp near Zalingei. When IDP camps are described as turning into small towns, it is this kind of “development” that is referred to. The architecture is self-designed and the buildings are entirely self-built.

The second image is a typical village scene, this one in Ain Siro in north Darfur, which shows the traditional houses, locally built, whose design has not changed in centuries. The disparities speak for themselves.