✓ verbatim from the press
Her flight departs this Monday (June 22, 2026) — if the documentation is finally ready. Fatmata Sessay, a 56-year-old Sierra Leonean citizen, has lived for about six months in the Belém International Airport terminal after losing her passport and financial resources in robberies during an attempt to reunite with her 15-year-old son in Panama. The trip was only made possible after the Pará Public Prosecutor's Office purchased a ticket and the Federal Court ordered, on Friday (19th), that the Pará government and Itamaraty provide consular assistance within 48 hours. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"Ao longo desse tempo, Fatmata Sessay, 56, está dormindo no saguão do aeroporto e se alimentando em um espaço de acolhimento municipal."
"Uma cidadã de Serra Leoa, de 56 anos, que vive há cerca de seis meses no Aeroporto Internacional de Belém, deve embarcar nesta segunda-feira (22) em direção ao Panamá, onde pretende reencontrar o filho de 15 anos."
Federal Judge Maria Carolina Valente do Carmo of the 1st Federal Civil Court accepted the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office request on Friday (19th) and ordered the Pará Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure consular assistance to the migrant, carrying out the necessary procedures with Sierra Leone's diplomatic representation — based in Washington — to regularize travel documentation, obtaining visas for entry into Colombia and Panama. According to prosecutor Nadilson Portilho Gomes's account, Fatmata still needed, over the weekend, to update her vaccination card, obtain proof of income, and await visa issuance; the new passport has already been issued. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"A juíza Maria Carolina Valente do Carmo, da 1ª Vara Federal Cível da Justiça Federal, acatou nesta sexta-feira (19) o pedido do Ministério Público Federal e determinou que o Governo do Pará e o Ministério das Relações Exteriores assegurem assistência consular à migrante em dois dias, realizando os trâmites necessários junto à representação diplomática de Serra Leoa (sediada em Washington), para a regularização de documentação de viagem, com a obtenção dos vistos para ingresso na Colômbia e no Panamá."
"Ainda não conseguimos toda a documentação necessária por ser fim de semana e ela ainda precisa se vacinar"
Fatmata lived in São Paulo for 18 years, worked as a street vendor, and has a Brazilian regular immigrant visa. Throughout this time at the airport, she has been sleeping in the terminal and eating at a municipal shelter — the Specialized Reference Center for Homeless Population (Centro Pop). The Belém City Hall reported that the woman receives social assistance, was registered in CadÚnico, and receives Bolsa Família; the municipality offered nighttime shelter, but she refused to go, claiming to feel safer in the terminal. ✓
Press quotes (3)
"Ela deixou São Paulo, onde morava havia 18 anos"
"A Prefeitura de Belém informou que Fatmata faz as refeições diárias no centro de atendimento à população de rua, entrou no CadÚnico e recebe Bolsa Família. O município disse que encaminhou a migrante ao acolhimento noturno, mas ela se recusa a ir"
"Não quis ir para nenhum lugar porque quando saio tem gente e carros em cima de mim. Aqui me sinto segura"
The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office classified the situation as "institutionalized abandonment" and requested the Federal Court impose a R$ 170,000 fine on municipal, state, and federal governments for negligence in migrant assistance. The Norte da Amazônia Airports concessionaire, which manages the terminal, said it contacted public agencies when it learned of the case and claimed that "due to legal limitations, it was not possible to act beyond the support measures already adopted." ✓
Press quotes (2)
"o MPF pediu à Justiça Federal multa de R$ 170 mil aos governos municipal, estadual e federal por omissão no atendimento a migrantes e classificou a situação como "abandono institucionalizado"."
"A concessionária Norte da Amazônia Airports, que administra o terminal, disse que acionou os órgãos públicos quando tomou conhecimento do caso e alegou que, "em razão das limitações legais, não foi possível atuar além das medidas de suporte já adotadas"."
Fatmata Sessay has lived for about six months at Belém International Airport
Federal Court ordered Pará government and Itamaraty to provide consular assistance within 48 hours
The trip's purpose is to reunite with her son in Panama
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (3)
Federal Public Prosecutor's Office requested R$ 170,000 fine against municipal, state, and federal governments for negligence
Belém residents mobilized to offer help, including housing
Conflicting versions (1)
Age of Fatmata Sessay
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Did Fatmata manage to board on Monday (22nd)?
Why it's still unknown: The court decision ordered assistance within 48 hours and the Public Prosecutor's Office purchased a ticket for Monday, but the prosecutor said over the weekend that documentation, vaccination, and visas were still pending. No source published confirmation of boarding by publication time.
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What is Fatmata Sessay's exact age?
Why it's still unknown: Folha de S.Paulo reported 56 years old; Diário do Centro do Mundo reported 57. The one-year difference may be a reporting error or update between articles.
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When and where was Fatmata robbed and lost her passport?
Why it's still unknown: She reported being robbed in Peru and again in Belém, where she lost her passport and a ticket she already had to Panama, but no source detailed dates or circumstances of the robberies.
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Why does Fatmata need a visa for Colombia if the final destination is Panama?
Why it's still unknown: The court decision mentions visas for Colombia and Panama, suggesting the route involves a stopover or transit through Colombia, but no source clarified the trip itinerary.
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Did Itamaraty and the Pará government comply with the court order?
Why it's still unknown: Folha reported it contacted Itamaraty but received no statement; the state government said it 'continues to act,' but no source confirmed whether visas were obtained or consular assistance was actually provided within the 48-hour deadline.