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Awale Resources Intersects new High Grade Mineralization at the Empire Discovery, Odienné, Cote d’Ivoire

Drill Results

Awale Resources Intersects new High Grade Mineralization at the Empire Discovery,

Odienné, Cote d’Ivoire

Vancouver, BC, December 15th 2020 – Awalé Resources Limited (“Awalé” or the “Company”) (TSXV: ARIC)

is pleased to report further exceptional gold results from the phase 2 drill program at the Empire gold

discovery and extension targets ( Figures 1 & 2). Assays are reported for 9 drill holes completed at the

Empire Main discovery, including holes OED-031 & OEDD-32, which successfully intersected a previously

untested high grade NE t rending vein array with wider and multiple lodes of gold mineralization. Initial

results have also been received from a further 43 scout holes (3,602m of drilling) drilled over the initial

3km of extension targets along the 20km Empire Trend.

RC Drilling is ongoing with only 3 holes to complete and once finished, a further 5 d iamond holes are

planned to test steep plunging mineralization at Empire Main . Following initial high grade scout drilling

intercepts at Anomalies 1 and 2, c ompany geologists are currently working on understanding the

geometry of the mineralization and alteration intercepted for the next phase of drilling.

DRILLING HIGHLIGHTS – Empire Main

OEDD-32: Drilled from NW to SE, successfully targeting a NE trending/NW dipping vein array as well as

the known east -west trending vein array – multiple lodes intercepted (Figures 3 & 4).

• 10m at 1.6 g/t grams per tonne gold (“g/t Au”) Au from 67 metres (“m”) - Northern Lode

• 22m at 3.8 g/t Au from 92m including 1m at 44 g/t Au from 104m, within a broader interval of

36m at 2.7 g/t Au from 89m.

• 7m at 2.4 g/t Au from 136m, within a broader interval of 12m at 1.8 g/t Au from 131m.

OEDD-31: Drilled from North to South between OEDD-09 and OEDD16 – Successfully testing for shallow

northern lode as well as postulated NW dipping vein array. This hole intercepted multiple gold- bearing

lodes (Figure 5).

• 16m at 2g/t Au from 45m (Northern Lode)

• 11m at 2.5 g/t Au from 61m including 1m at 10.4 from 74m

• 15m at 1.6 g/t Au from 85m including 1m at 9.3 from 95m

• 4m at 2.7 g/t Au from 118m including 1m at 7.1 g/t Au from 120m

• 1m at 8.8 g/t Au from 139m

OEDD-22: West step out hole from Discovery hole OEDD-1 – opening the mineralized system to the

northwest

• 4 meters at 3.6 g/t Au from 55 m including 1m at 8.3 g/t Au from 55m

OEDD-28: 40m Down dip of OEDD-22

• 1m at 11.3 g/t Au from 109m

Note: Drill intervals are reported as down hole, true widths are approximately 75 to 80% of the downhole

interval – all intercepts are calculated with a 0.5 g/t Au trigger including 2m of internal waste, high grade

intercepts are reported as individual assays or intervals calculated at a 1 g/t trigger value.

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Empire Main is a robust mineralized system, holes OE DD-31 and OE DD-32 have demonstrated the

presence and importance of the postulated north east vein array , th is orientation opens the

mineralization model to an additional steep southwest plunge on mineralization (lo ng section Figure 6).

Further to the down plunge target, hole DD -26 and DD -27 at the eastern extent of current drilling at

empire main have revealed a rapid truncation of the mineralization and the diorite host, A northwest

offset target is now being drilled to the north of these holes.

A full list of significant intercepts for this release is given in Table 1.

DRILLING HIGHLIGHTS – Extension Target Scout Drilling

Results have been returned from 3,602 meters of scout drilling in 43 holes over three targets strike south

east of the empire main discovery (Anomalies 1, 2 and 3 ; Figure 2). Drilling is ongoing at Anomaly 1.

Drilling at Anomalies 1 and 2 ha ve intercepted multiple mineralized zones associated with sulphide and

alteration. The campaign is showing potential mineralized trends at Anomaly 1 and 2 with target geology

and high grade gold results within these trends. Awale geologists are currently working to ascertain the

geometry and control of the systems at Anomaly 1 and 2 preparing for the next phase of drilling.

Anomaly 1 has intercepted a deformed package of volcaniclastic and sedimentary rocks which are variably

sheared and altered. Hole OEDD-57 has returned an encouraging first pass intercept of:

• OEDD-57 - 6m at 2.2g/t Au from 38m ( including 1m at 5 g/t Au from 39m and 1m at 5.2

g/t Au from 41m) and 2m at 1.4g/t Au from 48m,

These intercepts are contained within a 12 meter wide alteration zone and holes OERC-65, OERC66 and

OERC67 on a step out line 160 meters west have intercepted similar alteration veining and sulphide to the

mineralization in OERC-57.

At anomaly 2, modelled geology has been intercepted with hole OEDD -20 confirming a diorite intrusive

host within a package of altered and deformed volcano sedimentary rocks and carbonaceous mudstones.

Encouragingly, the alteration at the footwall contact of the diorite reflects closely of that observed at

Empire Main with a 7m wide deformation zone with biotite and calc-silicate alteration with minor sulphide

(pyrite) and visible gold in c. 5cm quartz veins . Hole OERC -48 is drilled 100m strike SW of the

mineralization in OEDD20 and displays biotite and silica sulphide alteration along a contact between silicic

volcanic rocks, and has returned 1 g/t Au from 89m

Best results returned from this alteration zone include

• OEDD-20 - 1m at 1g/t Au from 66m (within a broader intercept of 4.1m at 0.3 g/t Au from

66m) and 1m at 4.7 g/t Au from 85m.

A full table of significant intercepts is available in table 2

LINK: SEE FIGURES 1 TO 6: http://www.awaleresources.com/_resources/maps/2020-12-15-NR-

Figures.pdf

Company CEO Glen Parsons commented today:

“The robust nature of mineralisation at the Empire Discovery at Odienné continues to develop with

this program further confirming the presence of a high grade gold system. Holes from Empire main

continue to deliver high grade gold mineralisation and 22 metres at 3.8 grams gold in hole OEDD-

32 complements the previously reported gold mineralisation.

Turning the rig to dril l from south to north has proven very successful revealing a new NNE -NE

gold mineralised vein orientation. This was tested with holes OEDD -31 and OEDD -32 which

displayed visible gold and more robust and consistent mineralisation than previously reported drill

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holes from the prospect. More excitingly the presence of this NNE to NE gold mineralised vein array

opens potential for steeply SW plunging lodes that complement the known shallow plunges tested

in this program. 5 diamond drill holes have been added to the current program to test this new

gold mineralised orientation.

New mineralisation intercepted at the Anomaly 1 and Anomaly 2 extension targets is particularly

encouraging and the initial results form a nucleus for potential new discoveries at Empire.

Observed geology and alteration in drill cuttings reflect the modelled geology from our systematic

exploration work.

At Anomaly 2 OEDD-20 intercepted visible gold and grades up to 4.8 g/t gold in footwall alteration

of a target diorite body similar to Empire Main. Anomaly 1 is still being drilled and hole OERC -57

has intercepted 6 meters at 2.2 g/t gold including two 1m intervals at 5 g/t Au and 5.2 g/t Au, 6

additional RC holes have been added to follow up this new mineralisation.

Further to the continued high-grade results and opening of new mineralisation orientations at

Empire Main, it has been pleasing to see the initial scout drilling results starting to bear fruit on

the extension targets. We look forward to completion of the RC program and results f low from

Anomaly 1 as well as recommencing deeper diamond drilling at Empire main. The additional holes

at Empire main are expected to be completed by late January.

Awalé is in the process of testing the first 3km strike from the Empire Main discovery, a mere

fraction of the >20km long Empire structure. Furthermore, we continue to systematically explore

and extend new targets that are being generated along this exciting mineralised shear zone as

well as the greater mineralised north-west Corridor within our Odienné permit.

The pipeline of assays from completed holes is now in motion and we look forward to continued

reporting of results as and when they are received.”

Since the previous release, and the Election period hiatus RC Drilling recommenced in the first week of

December and continues. At the time of reporting 47RC and 4 diamond holes for 4,282m have been

completed over the Empire Extension targets. Drilling continues with approximately 500 RC meters left to

complete in 6 holes. Five (5) additional d iamond holes for c. 1200m have been planned for Empire main

and this is expected to be completed in late January. The company expects results flow to continue for

the remaining RC drilling along with Auger geochemistry from Empire and the new Charger Prospect.

Follow - Up Exploration Plan at Odienné

Awale remains confident of the upside potential of the Empire Structural trend and has an aggressive

ongoing campaign for the remainder of 2020 and Q1 2021. The near -term focus for the Odienné project

is as follows:

• Testing steep plunge model for Empire Main – c. 1200m of diamond drilling – targets shown as

highlighted panels in the long section in Figure 6.

• Detailed interpretation and understanding of the first pass intercepts from scout drilling at

Anomalies 1 and 2, as well as anticipated further results from anomaly 1 – follow up drilling.

• Test and understand potential eastern offsets from Empire Main as well as western extension

targets. A 500m gap exists between current drilling at Empire main and Anomaly 1 and the

western extension of the empire structure. A program of 240 Auger holes for 964m was

completed on the 8th of December as a targeting exercise next phase of drilling at Empire Main.

Further to this a New parallel structural target to Empire is being Auger drilled c. 3 km to the

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NNE of empire main. This will feed into the next program scout drilling over the greater empire

structure.

• Completion of Auger drilling and mapping at the Charger prospect approximately 3km north of

Empire. The charger prospect returned up to 1677ppb in legacy soil sampling within an 600m

long greater t han 100ppb anomaly. Initial mapping has revealed diorite body central to the

prospect area that is bound by a package of basalts and intermediate volcaniclastics and

tuffaceous rock.

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Table 1: Significant gold Intercepts in grams per tonne gold for all assayed holes in the current program.

Hole East North RL

Total

Depth

(m)

Inclination Azimuth From

(m)

To

(m) Length Grams/Tonne

Gold

Gram-

Metres

OEDD0022 649,012 1,029,686 468 93.4 -55 0 35 37 2 1.6 3.1

40 41 1 2.5

44 45 1 3.4

55 59 4 3.6 14.2

OEDD0026 647,559 1,030,207 477 82.25 -55 0 9 13.5 4.5 1.0 4.4

34 37 3 2.6 7.8

71 73 2 1.1 2.3

OEDD0028 647,368 1,030,193 471 144.5 -55 0 88 92 4 1.0 4.0

102 104 2 2.9 5.8

109 110 1 11.3

114 115 1 2.6

OEDD0029 647,362 1,030,214 472 102.2 -54 0 72 73 1 1.5

78 82.2 4.2 1.8 7.6

OEDD0031 647,474 1,030,313 476 144.2 -55 180 45 61 16 2.0 31.2

71 82 11 2.5 27.2

Including 74 75 1 10.4

85 100 15 1.6 23.6

Including 95 96 1 9.3

106 109 3 1.1 3.3

118 122 4 2.7 10.6

120 121 1 7.1

137 140 3 3.3 10.0

139 140 1 8.8

OEDD0032 647,447 1,030,316 476 174.7 -54 150 51.6 53.9 2.3 1.0 2.3

58 59 1 2.7 2.7

67 77 10 1.6 15.6

Including 72 77 5 2.0 10.2

81 85 4 1.1 4.4

89 125 36 2.7 96.1

Including 92 114 22 3.8 82.5

and 104 105 1 44.0

131 143 12 1.8 22.0

including 136 143 7 2.4 16.9

146 147 1 2.2 2.2

Note: Drill intervals are reported as down hole, true widths are approximately 75 to 80% of the downhole interval.

Results are reported at a 0.5 g/t Au trigger with 2m of included internal waste, included intervals are with a 1 g/t Au

trigger or individual assay values.

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Table 2: Empire East Extension Targets - significant gold Intercepts in grams per tonne gold for all assayed holes

in this release.

Hole East North RL

Total

Depth

(m)

Inclination Azimuth From

(m)

To

(m) Length Grams/Tonne

Gold Prospect

OEDD0020 649012 1029686 468 93.4 -55 360 66 70.1 4.1 0.33

Anomlay 2 Including 66 67 1 1.0

85 86 1 4.8

OEDD0025 648427 1029881 470 114.25 -55 360 79 81 2 0.2 Anomaly 1

OERC0025 649012 1029765 466 50 -55 360 18 19 1 0.4 Anomaly 1

OERC0027 649013 1029686 468 67 -55 360 52 53 1 0.4 Anomlay 2

OERC0028 649008 1029743 467 58 -55 180 19 20 1 0.6 Anomlay 2

OERC0029 649482 1029165 456 95 -55 360 1 2 1 0.2 Anomaly 3

OERC0033 649560 1029100 451 100 -55 360 13 14 1 0.3 Anomaly 3

OERC0034 649559 1029063 445 80 -55 360 51 52 1 0.2 Anomaly 3 OERC0034 60 62 2 0.5

OERC0038 649011 1029646 469 80 -55 360 34 35 1 0.3

Anomlay 2 OERC0038

42 43 1 0.4

OERC0038 52 53 1 0.7

OERC0038 57 58 1 0.2

OERC0039 649026 1029606 474 100 -55 360 35 36 1 0.3 Anomlay 2 OERC0039 38 40 2 0.5

OERC0042 649098 1029686 468 100 -55 360 93 94 1 0.4 Anomlay 2

OERC0043 649097 1029645 470 85 -55 360 55 56 1 0.6 Anomlay 2

OERC0045 649175 1029668 468 80 -55 360 72 73 1 1.4 Anomlay 2

OERC0046 649096 1029600 481 130 -55 360 27 29 2 0.2 Anomlay 2

OERC0048 648940 1029686 468 130 -55 360 53 55 2 0.2 Anomlay 2 OERC0048 89 90 1 1.0

OERC0049 648939 1029648 469 110 -55 360 14 16 2 0.3 Anomlay 2 OERC0049 61 62 1 0.3

OERC0050 648941 1029726 466 80 -55 360 69 70 1 0.2 Anomlay 2

OERC0051 648941 1029766 466 73 -55 360 36 39 3 0.2 Anomlay 2

OERC0053 648427 1029844 470 90 -55 360 16 17 1 0.3 Anomaly 1

OERC0054 648425 1029804 470 90 -55 360 76 77 1 0.3 Anomaly 1

OERC0055 648348 1029799 471 80 -55 360 75 77 2 0.4 Anomaly 1

OERC0056 648347 1029839 470 80 -55 360 25 26 1 0.5

Anomaly 1 OERC0056 57 58 1 0.2

OERC0056 61 62 1 0.2

OERC0057 648344 1029919 470 80 -55 360 25 26 1 0.3

Anomaly 1

34 35 1 0.3

38 44 6 2.2

Including 39 40 1 5.0

and 41 42 1 5.7

48 50 2 1.4

Including 49 50 1 2.2

OERC0059 648026 1030076 470 80 -55 360 52 53 1 0.2 Anomaly 1 OERC0059 58 60 2 0.5

OERC0061 648025 1030156 470 70 -55 360 18 19 1 0.4 Anomaly 1 OERC0061 67 68 1 0.3

OERC0062 648025 1030116 470 80 -55 360 26 27 1 0.2 Anomaly 1 OERC0062 31 32 1 0.3

Note: Drill intervals are reported as down hole, true widths are unknown. Results are reported at a 0.2g/t Au trigger

with 2m of included internal waste.

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Technical Background

While drilling continues at the empire east extension targets, the diamond holes reported in this release

mark the completion of this phase of drilling at Empire main. The program was planned to test a potential

shallow plunge to mineralization intercepted in the phase 1 program. Results from this program included.

• OEDD0001 18.15m at 4.9 g/t Au from 40 m downhole,

 including 10.4 m at 7.9 g/t Au from 40m downhole

• OEDD0002 27 m at 3.1 g/t Au from 43.2 m downhole

 including 9 m at 5.3 g/t Au from 43.2 m downhole.

• OEDD0009 17m at 2.6 g/t Au from 40 m downhole,

 including 2.65m at 15.4 g/t Au from 40m,

o 16.74m at 1.9 g/t Au from 74.26m downhole,

 including 9.28m at 2.7g/t Au from 80.72m and,

o 16m at 1.8 g/t Au from 98m downhole,

 including 3m at 7.6 g/t Au from 111m downhole

• OERC0021 18m at 3g/t Au from 97m downhole and 2m at 15.5 g/t Au from 111m downhole

o 11m at 2.5g/t Au from 140m downhole and 2m at 5.6g/t Au from 140m downhole

The phase program both confirmed a shallow plunge, and the north drill azimuth has revealed a second

vein array striking to the NNE/NE conjugate to the targeted east -west gold bearing veins. The final 2 holes

were drilled test both the presence of an additional northern lode, the central lode and the sign ificance

of the NE trending vein array. These holes confirmed both the northern lode and the gold bearing NE array

dipping to the northwest. This second vein array was not well tested by phase 1 drilling where holes were

drilled parallel to this orientatio n. Indeed OEDD-32 drilled perpendicular to this array has delivered the

broadest continuous drill intercepts to date (36 metres at 2.7 g/t with a 0.5 gram trigger or 62m at 2 g/t

with a 0.2 g/t trigger). Further this conjugate orientation opens the possibility for a steep west plunging

mineralization, additional to the flatter 25-to-30-degree plunge. A summary of all results from this

program is given in Table 1 and best intercepts are as follows:

• OEDD-24 15m at 13.1 g/t Au from 69m including 2m at 20g/t Au from 69m, 7.6m at 20.1 g/t Au

from 74.7m, and 1m at 129.8 g/t Au from 76m.

• OEDD-18 11 m at 4.9 g/t Au from 40m downhole including 1m at 4.8g/t Au and 1m at 40.2 g/t Au

from 40 and 41m, respectively.

• OEDD-16 17 m at 3.5 g/t Au from 86m downhole including 1m at 11.9 g/t Au and 1m at 11.7 g/t

Au from 87 and 90m respectively. (see release dated 7th October 2020)

• OEDD-32 10m at 1.6 g/t Au Au from 67m - Northern Lode

o 7m at 2.4 g/t Au from 136m

o 22m at 3.8 g/t Au from 92m and 1m at 44g/t Au from 104m

• OEDD0031 16m at 2g/t Au from 45m (Northern Lode)

o 11m at 2.5 g/t Au from 61m including 1m at 10.4 from 74m

o 15m at 1.6 g/t Au from 85m including 1m at 9.3 from 95m

The mineralization at empire main is characterized by multiphase deformation veining and alte ration

forming a robust high grade gold bearing system which now warrants deeper drilling to test a steep south

westerly plunge. The company is currently planning an additional 5 diamond holes for approximately

1200m to be completed at the end of the current drill phase.

Empire was discovered through systematic exploration by Awalé, resulting in a coincident geology,

gold/arsenic geochemistry, and ground geophysics (Induced Polarization, or “IP”) anomaly. The high order

soil anomalism coincid ed with a mapped mylonite -bearing structure that has been intruded by a later

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diorite body. This diorite is the host of mineralization at Empire Main. The Empire Main discovery is

characterized by multiphase deformation, alteration and veining with early potassic alteration+/- Au and

pyrite, calc silicate alteration (rare garnet, clinopyoxene and pyrrhotite), carbonate and silica sericite

alteration. The abundant free gold is likely late and associated with the final silica-carbonate-sericite

phase.

Extension Targets

Further to the plunge targets at Empire Main, the company has near completed drilling of 3 higher order

(>100ppb) auger anomalies along strike from the discovery area (figure 2). Results have been returned

for anomalies 2 and 3 with partial results returned for anomaly 1 – drilling is ongoing. These initial results

are exciting and at anomaly one confirm the model of a second potential diorite host.

Anomaly 1 is characterized by deformed silicic volcanic, greywacke and volcaniclastic rocks. Silica

carbonate alteration associated with sulphide from 1-3% is observed at contacts between silicic volcanic

rocks and the sediments Hole OERC-57 returned 6m at 2.2g/t Au from 38m (including 1m at 5 g/t Au from

39m and 1m at 5.2g/t Au from 41m) as well as 2m at 1.4g/t Au from 48m, these intercepts are contained

withing a 12 meter wide alteration zone. Holes OEDD-66 and OEDD-67 (results pending) on a step out line

120m west of OEDD-57 exhibit the same geology and alteration, an additional fence of holes has also been

planned midway between these holes.

Anomaly 2 exhibits similar host rock geology to Empire main. Pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite-pyrite are the most

abundant sulphide species with rare galena associated with some visible gold. Chlorite rather than biotite

is the abundant alteration mineral that is overprinted by the silica sulphide mineralization phase. This is

developed as quartz veins, veinlets and stringers that form within brittle ductile zones in a diorite hos t,

with locally intense calc -silicate alteration proximal to the zone. Results from hole OEDD -20 at this

prospect returned 1m at 1g/t Au from 66m (within a broader intercept of 4.1m at 0.3 g/t Au from 66m)

and 1m at 4.7 g/t Au from 85m. The Diorite and a lteration zone are c. 10 meters wide and company

geologists are working toward understanding the geometry of this new discovery.

At Anomaly 3, similar brittle deformation is observed in a medium grained quartzite, within clastic, fine

grained sedimentary rocks. Silica-sulphide veinlets and veins are associated with a hematite selvage that

gives the rocks a pink hue with pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite-pyrite the main sulphide species. This is also

developed with silica, at lithological contacts between fine to medium grained Intermediate intrusive

and volcanic rocks. This prospect returned rare +100 to 200ppb intervals that do not necessarily reflect

the alteration observed.

Quality Control and Assurance

Analytical work for drill core and RC percussion samples is being carried out at the independent Intertek

Laboratories Ghana Ltd. an ISO 17025 Certified Laboratory. Samples are stored at the company’s field

camps and put into sealed bags; they are stored securely until collected by Intertek for transportation to

Ghana.

Drill holes reported in this release are both RC and HQ core. HQ core is sampled as ¾ core (approximately

6 kg/ meter) with ¼ ‘sliver’ of the core sample being reserved as a library sample at the company offices.

The remaining ¾ core samples are logged in the Intertek tracking system, weighed, dried and finely

crushed to better than 70%, passing a 2 mm screen of which 50% is pulverized to 85%, passing a 75 -

micron, the remaining 50% is reserved. The pulverized sample is then cyanide leached by the LeachWELL

method with a further 2 Fire Assays are completed on the tail samples from the leach to monitor leach