Desert Gold's Mali Operations Ongoing and Unaffected by Conflict in the North

TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 02/04/13 -- Desert Gold Ventures Inc. (TSX VENTURE: DAU) (the "Company", "Desert Gold") reports that its Farabantourou, Loulo-East and Djimbala permits continue to operate normally following the declaration of a state of emergency in Mali as French forces joined the Malian army in a joint military initiative to quell rebels in the North of the country. In the South, including the capital Bamako, social and economic activity is normal and remains largely unaffected.

The Company recently completed a highly successful drill program on its Farabantourou permit (see news release dated January 15, 2013). The drill program, which lasted approximately two months, ran smoothly and was not impacted by the conflict in the North of the country.

The Company's operations and permits are in safe areas, more than 700 kilometres from conflict zones, and have not been affected by any of the issues that have afflicted Mali over the last twelve months.

Chief Executive Officer, Roeland Van Kerckhoven, noted, "Whilst our operations and interests are far from the conflict area in the North, the Company is monitoring the situation closely."

About Desert Gold Ventures Inc.

Desert Gold Ventures Inc. is an advanced exploration and development company which holds a portfolio of advanced mineral projects located in Rwanda, Mali and Senegal.

This news release has been prepared on behalf of the Board of Directors of Desert Gold, which takes full responsibility for its contents.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release includes certain "forward-looking statements". All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation statements regarding future estimates, plans, objectives, assumptions or expectations of future performance, are "forward-looking statements". All statements regarding the successful completion of the sale of the Goldbanks project and achieving commercial production on the Company's properties in Africa are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. We caution you that such "forward-looking statements" involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. For additional information on such risks, please consult "Risks and Uncertainties" found on page 14 of the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2011. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as may be 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.

Contacts:

Desert Gold Ventures Inc.

Jared Scharf

Chief Financial Officer

(416) 662-3971

(778) 372-1790 (FAX)
jared.scharf@desertgold.ca
www.desertgold.ca