Gounkoto gold mine officially opened

JERSEY, CHANNEL ISLANDS--(Marketwire - Aug 6, 2012) -

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


GOUNKOTO GOLD MINE OFFICIALLY OPENED


Gounkoto, Mali, 6 August 2012 - Randgold Resources' Gounkoto gold mine
in Mali was today officially opened by the country's minister of the
economy, finance and budget, Tiena Coulibaly, accompanied by the
ministers of mines, environment and public works.

Gounkoto is Randgold's fourth gold mine in Mali and while it is a
separate corporate entity with its own mining licence, it is
operationally linked to the company's nearby Loulo complex, itself in
the process of expansion.

Speaking at the opening, which was attended by Randgold's board of
directors, members of the Mali government, ambassadors, local and
traditional authorities and business partners, chief executive Mark
Bristow said the Loulo-Gounkoto combination was shaping up as one the
largest gold mining operations in Africa. The mine complex would not
only support the company's continued growth but would entrench and
expand gold mining as a major contributor to the Malian economy. He
noted that Randgold's long-established and productive partnership with
the State and people of Mali had provided the firm foundation for the
decision to build another new mine there.

Chairman Philippe Lietard described Randgold's continuing investment in
the development of the Loulo-Gounkoto mine complex as a vote of
confidence in Mali's future. While the country was still in the
process of re-establishing its democratic institutions after its
political crisis earlier this year, Randgold believed that it had the
will and ability to achieve a full recovery."Mali has shown in the past
that it can work through its internal
problems and come out stronger on the other side, and we believe it
will do so again now, setting an example for other countries not only
in Africa but across the world," he said.

RANDGOLD RESOURCES ENQUIRIES:
Chief Executive                       Financial Director
Mark Bristow                          Graham Shuttleworth
+44 788 071 1386/+223 66 75 01 22     +44 1534 735 333/+44 779 771 1338

Group regional manager West Africa    Investor & Media Relations
Mahamadou Samake                      Kathy du Plessis
+223 66 75 61 36/+223 20 20 16 94     +44 20 7557 7738 or
                                       randgoldresources@dpapr.com 


Website:  www.randgoldresources.com 


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