Surrey, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 27, 2026) - Desert Gold Ventures Inc. (TSXV: DAU) (FSE: QXR2) (OTCQB: DAUGF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce the commencement of Phase 1 reverse circulation ("RC") drill program at its SMSZ Project in Western Mali. The program will comprise of approximately 4,250 metres of RC drilling across five priority targets: Koussili, Gourbassi West North ("GWN"), Mogoyafara South, Kolon-Soa and the Barani Gap (Figure 1).

The program is designed to expand known mineralization, test strike and depth extensions, and evaluate structurally favorable zones for higher grade mineralization, while advancing near-mine resource growth in proximity to the planned Barani East oxide gold mine. This drill program is anticipated to be completed in H1 of this year.

Jared Scharf, President and CEO of Desert Gold, commented "We are delighted to kick off the 2026 drill program at our SMSZ project. This phase of drilling will focus on five areas; three of which already contain gold resources where we plan to test to depth and down plunge for extensions to existing gold lenses. We also plan to step out along strike with an aim to materially expand the scope of these gold systems. The other two target areas have seen only limited drilling to date and represent the potential for new discoveries and additional gold resources."

Table 1. Phase 1 RC Drill Program Summary

Figure 1. Overview map of SMSZ Project with drilling areas of interest (red annotated squares)

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RC Drill Program Technical Overview and Details

Koussili Target
At Koussili, located ~4.5 km north-northwest of Gourbassi West North ("GWN"), Desert Gold has identified a prospective target along the interpreted northern extension of the GWN mineralized corridor. Gold-in-soil and rock anomalies define a coherent north to north-northwest trend. Approximately 900 metres of RC drilling is planned to test these anomalies and evaluate potential continuity of mineralization from GWN along this emerging multi-kilometre trend (Figure 2a).

Gourbassi West North Target
At Gourbassi West North, mineralization is defined over ~1.6 km of strike within a steeply east-dipping structural corridor. Gold is hosted in deformed clastic sediments and associated with silicification and carbonate alteration, forming multiple subparallel lenses that locally thicken. The system remains open at depth below ~175 metres. A program of ~1,190 metres (8 RC holes) is planned to test down-dip and along-strike extensions and evaluate structurally favourable zones for thicker and higher-grade mineralization. GWN hosts an Indicated Mineral Resource of 2.72 Mt at 1.06 g/t Au (92,600 oz) and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 1.47 Mt at 1.42 g/t Au (67,000 oz)¹ (Figure 2b).

Figure 2. (Left) Gourbassi WN proposed drill target areas; (Right) Koussili proposed drill target areas

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Mogoyafara South Target
At Mogoyafara South, located along the Senegal-Mali Shear Zone, mineralization is structurally controlled within a deformed sedimentary-volcaniclastic sequence intruded by mafic units. Drilling has returned broad intervals and localized high-grade zones, and the deposit hosts an Inferred Mineral Resource of 14.33 Mt at 0.97 g/t Au (447,500 oz)¹. Mineralization remains open along strike and at depth, with geophysical and geochemical data supporting extensions to the south. Approximately 825 metres of RC drilling is planned to test down-plunge and strike extensions within and beyond the current resource area (Figure 4a). Additionally, recent reconnaissance and follow-up surface mapping have identified active artisanal workings, historical trenches that corroborate the Company's interpreted gold trends, soil anomalies, and key structural features within the Mogoyafara South area (Figure 3). Based on these recent findings, the Company is preparing a proposed 5,000 m trenching program to complement planned drilling activities. This work is intended to better define the geological and structural framework of the area and support future drill targeting.

Figure 3. Mogoyafara South highlighting anomalous samples and proposed trench locations

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Barani Gap Target
At Barani Gap, located <5 km from the proposed Barani small mine area, mineralization is hosted in steeply dipping, north to north-northwest trending lenses, including a parallel western structure that remains largely under-tested. The zone hosts an Inferred Mineral Resource of 1.07 Mt at 0.88 g/t Au (30,200 oz)¹. A program of ~545 metres (6 RC holes) is planned to evaluate continuity and expansion potential of this western structure as a potential near-mine resource (Figure 4b).

Figure 4. (Left) Mogoyafara South proposed drill targets; (Right) Barani Gap proposed drill targets

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Kolon-Soa Target
The Kolon-Soa Target comprises an approximately 8 km long corridor that has returned encouraging results from limited drilling completed to date, including intercepts of up to 2.04 g/t Au over 30 metres¹ The target is further supported by extensive artisanal workings and high-grade rock samples returning up to 77 g/t Au. Mineralization is interpreted to be associated with intensely fractured felsic intrusive rocks hosting oxidized quartz vein networks within a northwest-trending structural fabric. Following the recent identification of additional artisanal workings, the Company is planning an initial program of approximately 790 metres in 9 holes to test priority target areas and assess the potential for near-surface oxide mineralization within trucking distance of the Barani development area (Figure 4).

Figure 5. Kolon Soa proposed drill targets

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Other Business
The Company has issued 4,300,000 options to officers, directors and consultants pursuant to its current option incentive plan. These options vest immediately and are exercisable for 5 years at an exercise price of $0.14 per share.

The board also adopted an omnibus equity incentive plan providing for the issuance of options, RSU's and DSU's to officers, directors and employees. The Company has issued 6,550,000 RSU's pursuant to this plan to certain officers, directors and employees. This omnibus plan would replace the current option incentive plan upon approval by the shareholders at the next shareholder meeting and by the TSX Venture Exchange. The current grant of RSU's is also subject to approval of the shareholders at the next shareholder meeting.

On Behalf of the Board

"Jared Scharf"
___________________________
Jared Scharf
President & CEO

Contact Information
For further information, please contact:

Mineral Resources
¹The Mineral Resource estimates and intercept highlights referenced herein for the SMSZ Project, including Gourbassi West North, Mogoyafara South, and Barani Gap are derived from the Company's NI 43-101 complaint technical report titled "NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Technical Report and PEA on the SMSZ Project" with an effective date of Sept 19, 2025, available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+.

Qualified Person Statement
The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Ty Magee (M.Sc., P. Geo), a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Magee is an advisor and consultant to Desert Gold Ventures and is considered independent of the Company.

About Desert Gold
Desert Gold is a gold exploration company which controls properties in both Mali and Cote d'Ivoire. This includes the 440km² SMSZ Project in western Mali as well as the newly optioned 297km² Tiegba gold project in western Cote d'Ivoire within the prolific Birimian greenstone belt.

This news release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements entail various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in these forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on current expectations, are subject to uncertainties and risks, and actual results may differ materially from those contained in such statements. These uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, the strength of the capital markets, the price of gold; operational, funding, liquidity risks, the degree to which Mineral Resource estimates are reflective of actual Mineral Resources, the degree to which factors which would make a mineral deposit commercially viable, and the risks and hazards associated with mining operations. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed in the company's disclosure materials filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada and available at www.sedarplus.ca and readers are urged to read these materials. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from such statements unless required by law. 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. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein in the United States. The securities described herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States securities act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to the account or benefit of a U.S. person absent an exemption from the registration requirements of such act.

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Source: Desert Gold Ventures Inc.