East Africa Metals Announces $1,000,000 Non-Brokered Private Placement

VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - May 17, 2016) -

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East Africa Metals Inc. (TSX VENTURE: EAM) (the "Company") announces it is undertaking a non-brokered private placement financing of up to 10,000,000 units (the "Units") at a price of $0.10 per Unit, for gross proceeds of up to $1,000,000. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company and one-half of one non-transferable common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each whole Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one common share at an exercise price of $0.25 for a period of 24 months from the date of closing.

The private placement is fully subscribed based on committed interests received in the private placement.

Proceeds from the private placement will be used to advance the Company's Harvest and Adyabo projects, as well as for working capital purposes.

If at any time after the date that is four months after the date of issuance of the warrants, the Company's common shares have a closing price on the TSX Venture Exchange (or such other exchange on which the common shares may be traded at such time) greater than $0.30 per share for a period of 10 consecutive trading days, the Company will be entitled to accelerate the expiry date of the warrants upon 20 days' notice given by news release, and the warrants will then expire on the 20th day after the date of such notice.

All of the securities issued in connection with this placement are subject to resale restrictions which expire four months and one day from closing. The Company may pay a commission or finder's fee to eligible parties in connection with the private placement. The financing remains subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, to receipt of approval from the TSX Venture Exchange.

Insiders of the Company will be participating in the private placement. Participation of insiders in the private placement constitutes a related party transaction pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Shareholders in Special Transactions. The private placement is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of such instrument and policy as neither the fair market value of securities being issued to insiders nor the consideration being paid by insiders exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

The securities offered have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About East Africa Metals

The Company's principal assets and interests include both the 70%-owned Harvest polymetallic VMS exploration Project, which covers approximately 86 square kilometres in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, 600 kilometres north‐northwest of the capital city of Addis Ababa, and the Adyabo Project, covering 225 square kilometres immediately west of the Harvest Project. The Company owns 80% of the Adyabo Project, and upon execution of an NSR agreement the Company will own 100% of the Adyabo Project, subject to a 2% NSR. East Africa now has mineral resources defined at both projects in Ethiopia and continues to test priority targets. Additionally, the Company owns the 93 square kilometre Handeni Property located in north-eastern Tanzania. Handeni includes the Magambazi Project, a gold deposit discovered in 2009. East Africa has entered into a definitive agreement with an arm's length private exploration and development company to advance the project.

More information on the Company can be viewed at the Company's website: www.eastafricametals.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors:

Andrew Lee Smith, P.Geo., CEO

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "forecast", "project", "budget", "schedule", "may", "will", "could", "might", "should" or variations of such words or similar words or expressions. Forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by East Africa as at the date of such information and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of East Africa to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to risks factors set out in East Africa's management's discussion and analysis for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, East Africa's listing application dated July 8, 2013 and Tigray Resources Inc. Management Information Circular dated March 28, 2014. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable. Although East Africa has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. The Company does not update or revise forward looking information even if new information becomes available unless legislation requires the Company do so. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information contained herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.