Gold Exploration in West Africa

[FL]

Semafo (SMF.TO) hits new gold; 22m at 9.15g/ton

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Mankan East: A New Gold Discovery on the Jean Gobele Property in Guinea, West Africa

SEMAFO TSX-SMF

MONTREAL, May 10 /CNW Telbec/ - SEMAFO (TSX - SMF) is pleased to announce the discovery of the Mankan-East zone, a new gold-bearing zone identified following the results of a first trench returning 9.15 g/t Au over 22 metres (6.34 cut to 30 g/t). This trench (ZMKT-109) is part of the confirmation work started in 2004 on a prominent (3,500 meter-long and 500 meter-wide) soil geochemistry anomaly in the Mankan area of the Jean-Gobele property. The Mankan area is located 15 km north of Semafo's Kiniero gold mine, in northern Guinea.

The geochemical anomaly was culminating at 4.98 g/t Au. The newly discovered mineralized structure is comprised of an intense quartz-carbonate stockwork of veins in different directions. The veins appear to be of unusual extensive lengths, ranging from 50 to more than 100 meters. The mineralized stockwork is still open in every dimension.

Two trenches (previously dug in 2005, ZMKT-102 and 113), respectively located 100 and 900 meters south of ZMKT-109 and on the same topographical high oriented NW-SE, returned 3.24 g/t Au over 4 meters and 2.86 g/t Au over 8 meters (102) and 6.66 g/t Au over 3 meters (113). The mineralized structures intersected in these trenches show multiple veins filled with quartz and tourmaline and strike 130-310 degrees and dip steeply to the NE. Nevertheless, it is yet too early to confirm the true thickness of the mineralized zone. The horizontal continuity of these structures with the ones found in trench ZMKT- 109 appears very probable.

Further work is in progress with systematically hand or tractor-dug trenches at 100-meter spacing.

Relevant location, geological and geochemical plans will be made
available on Semafo's web site at www.semafo.com
All trench samples were sent to the SGS labs in Siguiri, Guinea for preparation and fire assaying on 50-grams sub samples. Semafo Guinea is using its own quality control procedures involving blind duplicates and industrial standards.

The exploration program was designed and managed by a team of Semafo Guinea geologists working under the supervision of senior geologist Idriss El Bhouli. Michel Cormier, geological engineer, director of geology and qualified person for Semafo revised the program and the data supporting this press release.

The common shares of Semafo are traded on The Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "SMF".

Semafo is a mining company whose mission is to explore, develop and mine major gold deposits in West Africa. Semafo currently operates the Kiniero mine in Guinea and the Samira Hill mine in Niger.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains "forward-looking statements", including, but not limited to, the statements regarding the Company's expectations as to the market price of gold, strategic plans, future commercial production, production targets, timetables, mine operating costs, fixed assets expenses, mineral reserve estimates and to the company's perspectives. Forward-looking statements express, as at the date of this press release, our estimates, forecasts, projections, expectations and beliefs as to future events or results. Forward-looking statements are reasonable, but involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Therefore, actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause results or events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include, but are not
limited to, factors associated with fluctuations in the market price of precious metals, mining industry risks, uncertainty as to calculation of mineral reserves, risks related to the grade of reserves, risks related to hedging strategies, risks of delays in construction and requirements of additional financing.

More extensive information on Semafo can be found on our home page at http://www.semafo.com

NO REGULATORY AUTHORITY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE CONTENT OF THIS RELEASE



For further information:
MONTREAL: Benoit La Salle, Chief Executive
Officer, [phone], [e-mail];
MONTREAL: Michel Cormier, Geological Engineer, Qualified Person, [phone],
[e-mail];
RENMARK FINANCIAL: Tina Cameron,
[e-mail]; Henri Perron:
[e-mail]; Media: Cynthia Lane:
[e-mail], [phone]; www.renmarkfinancial.com

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