Randgold - Tongon mine still operating on plan


JERSEY, CHANNEL ISLANDS--(Marketwire - March 9, 2011) -


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


TONGON MINE STILL OPERATING ON PLAN


Tongon, Cote d'Ivoire, 9 March 2011 - Randgold Resources said today
that despite the continuing political impasse in the Cote d'Ivoire, its
recently commissioned mine at Tongon was still operating on plan as
stated when the company reported its quarterly results last month. At
that time, it said the mine was functioning normally, albeit with some
interruptions and delays related to the situation in the country.
Chief executive Mark Bristow said today the company continued to
monitor and manage developments and would make a further announcement
if these affected its operations to a material degree.

RANDGOLD RESOURCES ENQUIRIES:

Chief Executive  Financial Director  Investor & Media Relations
Mark Bristow     Graham Shuttleworth Kathy du Plessis
+44 788 071 1386 +44 1534 735 333    +44 20 7557 7738
+44 779 775 2288 +44 779 771 1338    Email: randgoldresources@dpapr.com



Website: www.randgoldresources.com





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 US Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the US
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 realisation 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 are in turn based on
factors and events that are not within the control of Randgold 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 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
Randgold and Moto, 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 31 December 2009 which was filed with the US
Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC') on 31 March 2010.
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 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.



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

END

Contact Information: Contacts: RNS Customer Services 0044-207797-4400 http://www.rns.com