As you may be able to tell, this city journal is set in an alternate universe. In this universe, the geographic distribution of wealth is much more equitable and countries like Somalia are much more affluent than they are in the real world.

For instance, this is a typical town in coastal Somalia. Notice the lack of poverty and pirates.

Here is another historic old town.

Here is an affluent suburb in the northern part of the country. The gated community at the top of the image uses houses similar to these:

Lastly can be seen the historic Zeila mosque, claimed by some to date to the lifetime of Muhammad. Although in our world it is a ruin:

in the world of the nine digits, it has been restored.

Disclaimer: I know little about Somalia, but after seeing this (http://community.simtropolis.com/journal/4948/entry-23969-dar-es-salaam/) from Tanzania, I decided to give a crack at capturing the feel for it.