Gounkoto gold mine officially opened

JERSEY, CHANNEL ISLANDS -- (Marketwire) -- 08/06/12 --

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.

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 2011 which was filed with the US
Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC') on 31 March 2012.
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

Contacts:


RANDGOLD RESOURCES ENQUIRIES:


Chief Executive

Mark Bristow

+44 788 071 1386

+223 66 75 01 22


Group regional manager West Africa

Mahamadou Samake

+223 66 75 61 36

+223 20 20 16 94


Financial Director

Graham Shuttleworth

+44 1534 735 333

+44 779 771 1338


Investor & Media Relations

Kathy du Plessis

+44 20 7557 7738 or
Email Contact