Randgold Meets DRC Government on Moto


JERSEY, CHANNEL ISLANDS--(Marketwire - August 24, 2009) -

RANDGOLD RESOURCES LIMITED
Incorporated in Jersey, Channel Islands
Reg. No. 62686
LSE Trading Symbol: RRS (LSE: RRS)
Nasdaq Trading Symbol: GOLD (NASDAQ: GOLD)
("Randgold")

DRC GOVERNMENT AND RANDGOLD RESOURCES MEET TO PROGRESS MOTO TRANSACTION

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN,
INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A
VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 24 August 2009 - Randgold
Resources and the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DRC) will hold follow-up talks in Kinshasa this week to agree the
details of their cooperation on the Moto gold project.  

The company today also confirmed that its business combination
transaction with Moto Goldmines was making good progress, in step with
the guidance given to the market on the expected timetable to
completion. Prior to entering into the transaction, Randgold met with
the DRC government to outline its plans for the project and to
establish a basis for proceeding that met the government's
Reconstruction Initiative requirements. The government subsequently
gave its support to the transaction and confirmed that Randgold's
objectives were closely aligned with its own.

Chief executive Mark Bristow said today the government's firm support
had been fundamental to Randgold's decision to proceed with Moto.
"Fostering mutually beneficial partnerships with the governments and
people of our host countries is a key principle of Randgold's formula
for success in Africa.  The DRC government's aim under the
Reconstruction Initiative is to create real participation by the people
in, and lasting economic benefits from, the development of the
country's natural resources. We believe that, as we have done
elsewhere, we will make a meaningful contribution to the achievement of
this goal," Bristow said."Our current talks are part of the transaction 
completion process and will help ensure that, post completion, we can 
move smoothly and swiftly towards a bankable feasibility study on the 
Moto gold project."

RANDGOLD RESOURCES ENQUIRIES
Dr Mark Bristow
Chief Executive
Tel: +44 788 071 1386
Tel: +44 779 775 2288

Kathy du Plessis
Investor & Media Relations
Tel: +44 20 7557 7738
email: randgoldresources@dpapr.com
Website: www.randgoldresources.com


ABOUT RANDGOLD RESOURCES

Randgold is a gold mining and exploration company with its principal
activities focused on West and East Africa and stated reserves of 8.87
Moz.  In Mali, Randgold has an 80% controlling interest in the Loulo
mine, which is currently mining from two open pits and has just
commenced mining from one underground mine whilst developing a second
underground mine.  In the Loulo region, Gounkoto, on the Loulo permit,
is shaping up as a significant new discovery.  Also in Mali, Randgold
owns a 40% interest in the Morila Joint Venture, the owner of the
Morila mine, which it also operates.  In Cote d'Ivoire, Randgold owns
an effective 84% controlling interest in the Tongon development
project, where it has commenced construction and expects to be in
production towards the end of 2010. In Senegal, Randgold has a new
discovery, Massawa, which is at prefeasibility stage and which it
believes has multi million ounce potential and the makings of a
world-class orebody.  Randgold also has exploration permits and
licenses covering substantial areas in Mali, Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina
Faso, Ghana, Senegal and Tanzania.  The acquisition of Moto will
increase Randgold's attributable mineral reserves, measured and
indicated resources, and inferred resources by 1.9 Moz, 4.0 Moz, and
3.9 Moz, respectively.

LEGENDS

HSBC, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the
Financial Services Authority, is acting exclusively for Randgold and no
one else in connection with the Moto Transaction and will not be
responsible to anyone other than Randgold for providing the protections
afforded to clients of HSBC, nor for providing advice in relation to
the Moto Transaction, the contents of this announcement or any other
matter referred to herein.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING-STATEMENTS

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters
discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements within
the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and
Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and applicable
Canadian securities legislation.  Forward-looking statements include,
but are not limited to, statements with respect to the future price of
gold, the estimation of mineral reserves and resources, the realization
of mineral reserve estimates, the timing and amount of estimated future
production, costs of production, reserve determination and reserve
conversion rates.  Generally, these forward-looking statements can be
identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "will", 
"plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", 
"scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" 
or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words 
and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", 
"could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". 
Assumptions upon which such forward looking statements are
based include that Randgold and Moto will be able to satisfy the
conditions in the Arrangement Agreement, that the required approvals
will be obtained from the shareholders of Moto, that all third party
regulatory and governmental approvals to the transaction will be
obtained and all other conditions to completion of the transaction will
be satisfied or waived.  Many of these assumptions are based on factors
and events that are not within the control of Randgold or Moto and
there is no assurance they will prove to be correct.  Forward-looking
statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity,
performance or achievements of Randgold and Moto to be materially
different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements, including but not limited to: risks related to the
integration of the combined companies, risks related to mining
operations, including political risks and instability and risks related
to international operations, actual results of current exploration
activities, conclusions of economic evaluations, changes in project
parameters as plans continue to be refined, as well as those factors
discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Randgold's annual
report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2008 which was
filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on May 15, 2009
and in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Moto's Amended and
Restated Annual Information Form of the year ended December 31, 2008.
Although Randgold has attempted to identify important factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in
forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause
results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.  There can be
no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual
results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements.  Accordingly, readers should not place
undue reliance on forward-looking statements.  Randgold does not
undertake to update any forward-looking statements herein, except in
accordance with applicable securities laws.

Cautionary note to US investors; the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") permits companies, in their filings with the
SEC, to disclose only proven and probable ore reserves.  We use certain
terms in this release, such as "resources", that the SEC does not
recognise and strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with
the SEC. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any parts of
our resources will ever be converted into reserves which qualify as 
'proven and probable reserves' for the purposes of the SEC's Industry
Guide number 7.

Randgold and Moto will file important documents relating to the Moto
Transaction with the SEC and with applicable Canadian securities
regulatory authorities; a copy of the Arrangement Agreement has already
been filed.  The description of the Arrangement Agreement contained
herein does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to the full text of the Arrangement Agreement.  Investors
and security holders are urged to carefully read the Arrangement
Agreement and all such documents filed with the SEC and applicable
Canadian securities regulatory authorities, because these documents
contain important information.  Investors and security holders are able
to obtain a free copy of such documents at the SEC's web site at
www.sec.gov, at the website of the Canadian securities regulators at
www.sedar.com, or by directing a request to:

Randgold Resources Limited
David Haddon
General Counsel and Secretary

                    This information is provided by RNS
          The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

Contact Information: Contacts: RANDGOLD RESOURCES ENQUIRIES Dr Mark Bristow Chief Executive Tel: +44 788 071 1386 Tel: +44 779 775 2288 Kathy du Plessis Investor & Media Relations Tel: +44 20 7557 7738 email: randgoldresources@dpapr.com Website: www.randgoldresources.com