Lithium Africa to Commence 2,000 m Drill Program at Adzopé and Provides Côte d’Ivoire Exploration Update
TSX-V: LAF | FSE: 6MQ | www.li-africa.com
Lithium Africa to Commence 2,000 m Drill Program at Adzopé
and Provides Côte d’Ivoire Exploration Update
Lisbon, Portugal – April 23, 2026 – Lithium Africa Corp. (TSX-V: LAF) (FSE: 6MQ) (“Lithium
Africa” or the “Company”) is pleased to provide an exploration update on its Côte d’Ivoire
assets, highlighted by the commencement of its first drill program at Adzopé since going public
and continued advancement of priority targets at Agboville.
Highlights at Adzopé – Drill-Ready Target
• 2,000 m reverse circulation (“RC”) drill program scheduled to commence at Adzopé in
late April 2026.
• Program to test one part of the newly identified, multi-km “Saby Trend”, a broad lithium-
bearing corridor associated with spodumene-bearing pegmatites defined through prior
auger drilling, trenching, mapping and other surface work.
• Surface trenching at Adzopé returned a significant lithium intercept of 8.0 m at 1.10%
Li₂O from 31.4 m, including 5.2 m at 1.47% Li₂O and a peak interval of 1.0 m at 1.74%
Li₂O, supporting the Saby Trend as a drill-ready target. Laboratory results from a second
trench in the southern part of the Saby Trend are pending.
• Drone-based DTM survey completed across the broader Saby Trend, with detailed
mapping and pegmatite fractionation studies to continue during drilling and elsewhere
within the Adzopé license.
• Adzopé is located approximately 100 km from the Port of Abidjan and is accessible by
paved road (Figure 1).
Highlights at Agboville – Emerging District Adjacent to Atlantic Lithium
• At Agboville, surface mapping and soil and rock sampling has identified spodumene-
bearing pegmatites in the northeastern part of the license, while regolith mapping,
regional reconnaissance and follow-up soil geochemistry continue across the broader
~400 km2 land package.
• Ongoing Agboville soil and trenching programs are expected to conclude within
approximately two months.
• The Company’s Agboville project is located immediately adjacent to Atlantic Lithium
Limited’s (“Atlantic Lithium”) Agboville license to the northeast, where pronounced
lithium in soil anomalies and spodumene have been identified, similar to what the
Company is seeing within our Agboville license.1
• Agboville is located approximately 85 km from the Port of Abidjan and is accessible by
paved road (Figure 1).
1 This news release contains information about adjacent properties on which the Company has no right to
explore or mine. Readers are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of
mineral deposits on the Company’s properties.
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The upcoming drill program will test one part of the broader Saby Trend at Adzopé, while
additional mapping, pegmatite fractionation and target refinement continue elsewhere along the
trend within the Adzopé license. At the same time, ongoing regolith mapping, regional
reconnaissance, soil geochemistry and trenching preparations at Agboville continue to advance
additional targets, with further upside across the Company’s Côte d’Ivoire portfolio from the
~368 km² Sikensi ground (Figure 1), currently under application.
Tyron Breytenbach, CEO, commented, “The start of drilling at Adzopé marks a major milestone
for Lithium Africa as our first drill campaign since going public. It is an important step in
executing our strategy of systematically advancing high-potential lithium assets across Africa
through disciplined, value-focused exploration.”
Mamadou Coulibaly, Director and Head of West Africa, commented, “The Saby Trend was
identified in-house through the disciplined work of our Côte d’Ivoire team, from mapping and
auger drilling to trenching and target refinement. This first drill program will test only one part of
that broader trend at Adzopé, while additional work continues elsewhere within the Adzopé
license and at Agboville, highlighting the wider discovery potential of our Côte d’Ivoire portfolio.”
Figure 1. Regional map showing project locations and related infrastructure.
Adzopé Drill Program
The Company is preparing to commence a 2,000 m RC drill program at its Adzopé license in
Côte d’Ivoire in late April 2026. The program is designed to test one segment of the Saby Trend,
a broad lithium-bearing pegmatite corridor identified within the license area.
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The Saby Trend has been progressively defined through prior auger drilling, trenching, surface
mapping and pegmatite fractionation studies (Figure 2), all of which point to a continuous
corridor of spodumene-bearing LCT pegmatites. Trench 1 at Saby Main returned 8.0 m at
1.10% Li₂O from 31.4 m, including 5.2 m at 1.47% Li₂O and a peak interval of 1.0 m at 1.74%
Li₂O within weathered saprolite — grades the Company considers particularly encouraging
given that lithium is typically depleted in saprolite relative to underlying fresh rock (see Appendix
A for full results of Trench 1). Trench 2 (Figure 2) was excavated in Q1 2026 and visible
spodumene logged in the trench is interpreted to support continuity of the Saby Trend; assay
results are pending.
The upcoming RC program will test the southern part of the Saby Trend at depth, while
additional geological mapping and pegmatite fractionation work continues elsewhere along the
corridor within the Adzopé license.
In support of the program, Lithium Africa completed a drone-based digital terrain model (“DTM”)
survey across the broader Saby Trend, which was used for drill-pad siting and structural
interpretation. Detailed geological mapping and pegmatite fractionation studies along the entire
Saby Trend will continue in parallel with drilling, supported by regional geophysical
interpretations.
The Company has selected International Drilling Company Côte d’Ivoire SASU as drilling
contractor for the Adzopé program. Assay results from the program will be reported as they are
received from the laboratory and validated by the Qualified Person.
Figure 2: Location of the Adzopé project and Saby Trend (left), with a detailed inset of the southern Saby
Trend (right) overlaid on the drone-based DTM. The inset shows historical auger geochemistry results,
mapped spodumene outcrops, trench locations, and planned RC drill collars.
Agboville Exploration Update
At Agboville (Figure 3), exploration activities continue to advance across multiple workstreams.
Surface geology and regolith mapping in the northeastern corner of the license has identified
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spodumene-bearing pegmatites. Identified outcrops of spodumene-bearing pegmatites are on-
trend with soil anomalies and spodumene float within the Atlantic Lithium Agboville license, as
disclosed by Atlantic Lithium in its news releases dated May 22, 2025 (Spodumene Pegmatite
Discovered in Côte d'Ivoire) and October 20, 2025 (Pronounced Lithium-in-soil Anomalies within
Agboville and Rubino Licences, Côte d'Ivoire), highlighting a trend more than 5 km in strike.
Initial soil survey programs over priority areas have been completed with full results pending,
and a second round of follow-up sampling is planned along the continuation of identified
pegmatite trends. In addition, a trenching program targeting outcropping spodumene-bearing
pegmatites has been designed and community consultation for this program has commenced.
These activities, including ongoing claim-wide reconnaissance geology and regolith mapping
are expected to conclude within approximately two months, ahead of the onset of the rainy
season.
Figure 3: Map of the Agboville project showing claim boundaries, infrastructure, spodumene
occurrences, completed soil sampling and geological and regolith mapping, and location of ongoing
reconnaissance geology, regolith mapping, and soil survey campaign.
TSX-V: LAF | FSE: 6MQ | www.li-africa.com
Community Engagement
Lithium Africa continues to prioritize early, transparent and respectful engagement with local
authorities, landowners and village representatives in support of its exploration programs in
Côte d’Ivoire.
Ahead of drilling at Adzopé, the Company met with local authorities, village leaders and
landowners to present the RC drill program, discuss safety and environmental protection
measures, and review crop assessment and compensation procedures where required. Similar
community engagement has also been undertaken at Agboville in advance of planned
trenching.
The Company believes constructive community engagement is fundamental to responsible
exploration and to the continued advancement of its Côte d’Ivoire portfolio.
The Company expects to provide further updates as drilling progresses at Adzopé and as field
programs continue at Agboville.
Figure 4. Photograph of the 23 March 2026 meeting between Lithium Africa and administrative
authorities of the Adzopé Project, including the Regional Director of Mines and Geology, Regional
Director of Agriculture, and representatives from the local communities, including landowners and the
village chief.
About Lithium Africa Corp.
Lithium Africa has established a 50/50 joint venture partnership with GFL International Co., Ltd.
to advance lithium exploration across Africa. Through this partnership, the Company holds an
indirect 50% interest in a portfolio of hard rock lithium assets across South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire,
Guinea, Mali, and Zimbabwe. For more information, please visit www.li-africa.com.
TSX-V: LAF | FSE: 6MQ | www.li-africa.com
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF LITHIUM AFRICA CORP.
Tyron Breytenbach, CEO and Director
For further information, please contact:
Jeanne Liu, Corporate Communications
+1.604.771.7125
QAQC
All trench (and auger) samples were collected under the supervision of the Company’s
employees. Samples were bagged, and blank material (cement) and certified reference
materials were inserted at regular intervals at the company’s field camp. Field duplicates were
also included in the sample stream. Groups of samples were placed in sealed bags and
submitted to Intertek Minerals in Tarkwa, Ghana, for sample preparation, after which pulps were
securely transported by Intertek to Intertek Genalysis in Perth, Western Australia for analysis.
Sample preparation and analytical work for this trench program were carried out by Intertek.
Samples were prepared according to Intertek method SP02, whereby samples were dried and
pulverized such that 85% passed a 75-micron (200 mesh) screen.
Pulverized samples were analysed using Intertek Genalysis method 4A-Li/MS48, comprising a
multi-acid digest (hydrofluoric, nitric, perchloric and hydrochloric acids) in Teflon tubes, followed
by analysis by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The multi-acid digest is
considered a near-total digestion. Lithium hosted in certain minerals may not be completely
dissolved.
Laboratory QA/QC procedures included the analysis of blanks, certified reference materials and
duplicates, with results indicating acceptable levels of accuracy and precision.
Qualified Person
Benjamin Gelber, P.Geo, a non-independent Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-
101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and VP Exploration of the Company, has
reviewed and approved the technical disclosure in this news release.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts may be forward-looking
statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements
in this press release include statements relating to the Company’s planned exploration and
evaluation activities including the drill program at Adzopé, statements regarding lithium
prospectivity in the Saby Trend, and pending results of surveys and samplings. The use of any
of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar
expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to
identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or
assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events including, among others,
assumptions about future prices of lithium, currency exchange rates and interest rates,
favourable operating conditions, political stability, obtaining government approvals and financing
on time, obtaining renewals for existing licenses and permits and obtaining required licenses
and permits, labour stability, stability in market conditions, availability of equipment, availability
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of drill rigs, and anticipated costs and expenditures. The Company cautions that all forward-
looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a
number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors
include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the Company’s ability to
complete any payments or expenditures required; and other risks and uncertainties relating to
the actual results of current exploration activities; the uncertainty of estimates and projections in
relation to production, costs and expenses; the uncertainties involved in interpreting drill results
and other exploration data; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities; the
possibility that future exploration, development or mining results may vary from those expected;
equipment breakdowns, title and permitting matters, labour disputes or other unanticipated
difficulties with or interruptions in operations, fluctuating metal prices, unanticipated costs and
expenses, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future
and regulatory restrictions, including environmental regulatory restrictions; the possibility that
future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with adjacent properties
and the Company's expectations; operational risks and hazards inherent with the business of
mining (including environmental accidents and hazards, industrial accidents, equipment
breakdown, unusual or unexpected geological or structural formations, cave-ins, flooding and
severe weather) and those risks set out in the filings on SEDAR+ made by the Company with
securities regulators. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in
preparing the forward-looking information in this press release are reasonable, undue reliance
should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news
release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames
or at all. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,
other than as required by applicable securities legislation.
Neither the 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.
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APPENDIX A:
Appendix A — Trench 1 (Saby Main) Channel-Sample Assay Results
Li₂O calculated from elemental Li by the conversion factor 2.153. Intervals are channel-sample
lengths along the trench floor and do not represent true widths.
Sample ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Li₂O (%)
EXP000516 0.0 0.8 0.8 0.11
EXP000518 0.8 1.8 1.0 0.10
EXP000519 1.8 3.2 1.4 0.06
EXP000521 3.2 4.1 0.9 0.11
EXP000522 4.1 4.9 0.8 0.11
EXP000523 4.9 5.8 0.9 0.09
EXP000524 5.8 6.8 1.0 0.09
EXP000525 6.8 8.3 1.5 0.10
EXP000526 8.3 9.1 0.8 0.06
EXP000527 9.1 10.7 1.6 0.11
EXP000528 10.7 12.7 2.0 0.10
EXP000529 12.7 13.7 1.0 0.11
EXP000530 13.7 14.6 0.9 0.09
EXP000532 14.6 15.6 1.0 0.13
EXP000534 15.6 16.8 1.2 0.10
EXP000537 16.8 18.0 1.2 0.11
EXP000538 18.0 18.8 0.8 0.07
EXP000540 18.8 19.6 0.8 0.10
EXP000541 19.6 20.4 0.8 0.12
EXP000543 20.4 21.9 1.5 0.12
EXP000544 21.9 22.7 0.8 0.11
EXP000545 22.7 24.0 1.3 0.11
EXP000546 24.0 25.6 1.6 0.11