Mkango Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:MKA) (the "Corporation" or "Mkango") is
pleased to announce that the second stage of diamond drilling has commenced at
the Songwe Hill rare earth project in Malawi. 


Mkango's drilling contractors, Cartwright Drilling Inc. of Goose Bay, Canada,
commenced drilling on 10th January. Stage 2 drilling, designed to complement
Stage 1 drilling completed in 2011, will mainly focus on an area measuring
approximately 350m by 100m comprising rare earth enriched carbonatite, breccia
and fenite lithologies, largely exposed at surface and open to depth. 


The programme will comprise infill drilling and testing depth extensions of
mineralisation intersected in the first stage. Stage 1 demonstrated that the
mineralised zones have the potential to extend to at least 260m vertical depth
and remain open laterally within the extents of the Songwe Hill carbonatite
complex.


Other recent activities in relation to Songwe include the following: 



--  Five approximately E-W bearing lines of systematic surface channel
    sampling using rock saws have been completed at Songwe and approximately
    400 samples are being dispatched for assay. All sampling was carried out
    following best practice and included a comprehensive QAQC monitoring and
    control programme. Geological mapping has been continuing in conjunction
    with Dr Alan Woolley and the geological model has been further refined. 
--  A detailed mineralogical programme has been completed by Mkango's
    principal geologist, Dr Aoife Brady, comprising scanning electron
    microscope, electron microprobe and LA-ICP-MS analyses at the Natural
    History Museum and Aberystwyth University in the UK, the results of
    which are currently being reviewed. 
--  Representative sections of core from 5 drill holes from Stage 1 (PX001,
    PX003, PX005, PX012 and PX009) with a total weight of 635kg have been
    sent to Mintek in South Africa for scoping metallurgical test work. 
--  Grab samples from two yttrium enriched breccia targets proximal to
    Songwe and from other exploration targets within the licence area are
    being dispatched for assay. Preliminary SEM analysis of a sample from
    one of the breccia targets indicates xenotime in the breccia matrix may
    be the source of yttrium enrichment. The latter was carried out as part
    of a Phd research project focused on generating heavy rare earth targets
    in alkaline provinces, specifically Malawi, in collaboration with the
    British Geological Survey, Camborne School of Mines and Leominex. 



In the Thambani licence area, reconnaissance work completed to date has
identified a number of areas containing several existing and partially worked
alluvial (and possibly elluvial) occurrences of zircon, which have become the
initial exploration focus. There is also exploration potential for niobium,
uranium, corundum and rare earths within the Thambani licence area.


The Songwe Hill Rare Earth Project 

The Songwe Hill rare earth project is located within a 100% owned exclusive
prospecting licence covering an area of 1,283 km2 in southeast Malawi (the
"Phalombe Licence"). Songwe is accessible by road from Zomba, the former
capital, and Blantyre, the principal commercial town of Malawi. Total travel
time from Zomba is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, which will reduce as
infrastructure continues to be upgraded in the area. 


Eleven of the thirteen holes drilled in Stage 1 intersected significant zones of
rare earth mineralisation, including higher grade zones and areas of heavy rare
earth enrichment. Drilling and surface mapping to date have confirmed that the
extent of the mineralised carbonatite is much greater than indicated by
historical exploration.


Scientific and technical information, including data verification, contained in
this release has been approved and verified by Mr Mike Venter Pr.Sci.Nat,
Principal Consultant at The MSA Group who is a "Qualified Person" in accordance
with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. 


Sample preparation and analytical work for the drilling and channel sampling
programmes are being provided by Intertek-Genalysis Laboratories (Johannesburg,
South Africa and Perth, Australia) employing ICP-MS techniques suitable for rare
earth element (REE) analyses and following strict internal QAQC procedures
inserting blanks, standards and duplicates. 


Mkango Resources Ltd.

Mkango's primary business is the exploration for rare earth elements and
associated minerals in the Republic of Malawi. It holds, through its wholly
owned subsidiary Lancaster, a 100% interest in two exclusive prospecting
licenses covering a combined area of 1,751 km2 in southern Malawi. The main
exploration target is the Songwe Hill rare earth deposit, which features
carbonatite hosted rare earth mineralisation and was subject to previous
exploration in the late 1980s. 


The Corporation's corporate strategy is to further delineate the rare earth
mineralisation at Songwe Hill and secure additional rare earth element and other
mineral opportunities in Malawi and elsewhere in Africa.


Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements 

This news release may contain forward-looking statements relating to the
Corporation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans,
intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their
nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and
unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to
the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other
forward-looking statements will not occur, which may cause actual performance
and results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or
projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, among others, the
interpretation and actual results of current exploration activities; changes in
project parameters as plans continue to be refined; future commodity prices;
possible variations in grade or recovery rates; failure of equipment or
processes to operate as anticipated; labour disputes and other risks of the
mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in
the completion of exploration. 


The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of
the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the Corporation
disclaims any intention and assume no obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities law.
Additionally, the Corporation undertakes no obligation to comment on the
expectations of, or statements made, by third parties in respect of the matters
discussed above.


The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of
this press release.


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