Dr. Thomas Benson reports

LITHIUM AFRICA REPORTS HIGH-GRADE FIRST DRILL RESULTS AT SPRINGBOK, INTERSECTING 6.0 M AT 2.27% LI2O WITH INDIVIDUAL SAMPLES UP TO 4.11% LI2O

Lithium Africa Corp. has released first assay results from its inaugural drill program at the Norrabees I prospect within the Springbok project in the Northern Cape of South Africa. These are the company's first drill results since becoming a publicly listed company, and they confirm high-grade spodumene mineralization from near surface at Norrabees I. Based on these results, the company has expanded the program with an additional 1,000 metres of diamond drilling at Norrabees I and has commenced a 1,000-metre channel sampling program across 21 spodumene-bearing pegmatites at Springbok.

Highlights

• First drill results since listing return high-grade spodumene mineralization at Norrabees I:
  • NB1DD26-003: 7.5 m at 1.97 per cent Li2O (lithium oxide) from 18.5 m, including 6.0 m at 2.27 per cent Li2O;
  • NB1DD26-001: 4.0 m at 2.25 per cent Li2O from 2.0 m.
• Individual one m samples returned up to 4.11 per cent Li2O (NB1DD26-004, 21.0 to 22.0 m; assays below 22.0 m pending reanalysis), 3.09 per cent Li2O (NB1DD26-001) and 2.75 per cent Li2O (NB1DD26-003);
• Mineralization starts near surface, from 2.0 m downhole in NB1DD26-001 and within approximately 20 m downhole in NB1DD26-003 and NB1DD26-004;
• Program expanded with an additional 1,000 m of diamond drilling at Norrabees I and a 1,000 m channel sampling program across 21 spodumene-bearing pegmatites to test grade continuity at surface and prove out the district-scale (greater than 50 kilometres wide) opportunity.

Thomas R. Benson, PhD, chief executive officer and director of Lithium Africa, commented: "Our first drill results as a public company have delivered multiple meters above 2 per cent Li2O and samples up to 4.11 per cent Li2O, starting just metres below surface. High-grade mineralization this close to surface is encouraging for our objective of evaluating a smaller-scale, high-grade starter operation at Springbok. We're acting on it right away by expanding drilling at Norrabees I and channel sampling 21 spodumene-bearing pegmatites across the Springbok district, and we're just getting started."

Norrabees I drill results

The program is the company's first drill campaign at the Springbok project and comprises approximately 3,500 m of combined diamond (1,500 m) and reverse circulation (RC) (2,000 m) drilling, targeting the Norrabees I and II pegmatites, the newly identified spodumene-bearing extension between them, and priority targets along the Springbok trend.

Significant intercepts from holes NB1DD26-001 to NB1DD26-004 are presented in Table 1 and collar details in Table 2 (Appendix). Three of the four holes include intervals grading above 2 per cent Li2O. Assays from NB1DD26-004 below 22.0 m are pending reanalysis, and will be reported once received and validated. Assays for NB1DD26-005 and NB1DD26-006 are pending.

Program expanded and channel sampling under way

Three drill rigs are currently operating across the Springbok project: two diamond rigs and an RC rig. To date, 2,313 m have been completed over 69 drill holes; assay results for the remaining holes are pending or being compiled.

Following the results reported today, the company has expanded the program with an additional 1,000 m of diamond drilling along strike of Norrabees I to follow up the high-grade mineralization intersected to date and advance resource definition at the prospect.

The company has also commenced a 1,000 m channel sampling program across 21 spodumene-bearing pegmatites at Springbok, designed to test grade continuity along strike and across the width of the surface exposures, and to prioritize targets for drill testing. Regional mapping has identified spodumene-bearing pegmatite occurrences over approximately 50 km of strike, with the current program testing pegmatites along a trend approximately 30 km long and five km wide. Results from the remaining drill holes are expected in Q4 2026 and Q1 2027, and channel sampling results will be reported when received and validated.

Upcoming events

Lithium Africa will be attending the following conferences and events. Investors may contact the company at investors@li-africa.com to arrange a meeting with management.

• Benchmark Summit 2026: Oct. 20, 2026;
• New Orleans Investment Conference 2026: Oct. 28 to Oct. 31, 2026;
• Benchmark Week 2026: Nov. 10 to Nov. 11, 2026;
• 121 Mining Investment London: Nov. 23 to Nov. 24, 2026.

QA/QC and data verification

The company has implemented a rigorous QA/QC (quality assurance/quality control) program for its 2026 drill campaign to ensure industry-best practices for sample preparation, security and analysis.

Diamond drill core (HQ/NQ) was logged and sampled at nominal one m intervals adjusted to lithological contacts, with half core submitted for analysis. Samples were analyzed by SGS South Africa (Randfontein), an independent commercial laboratory with no relationship to the company other than as a service provider, which is accredited by SANAS to ISO/IEC 17025, using sodium peroxide fusion with ICP-OES (GE_ICP90A50) and ICP-MS (GE_IMS90A50) finishes. The company inserted certified reference materials (AMIS0565, AMIS0629 and AMIS0913), a certified silica blank (AMIS0865) and quarter-core field duplicates into the sample stream. In the laboratory batch containing the results reported herein, CRMs, blanks and field duplicates made up approximately 4.7 per cent, 2.3 per cent and 9.3 per cent of samples, respectively. Assay values were verified against the original laboratory certificates. The qualified person has reviewed the internal laboratory QA/QC reports, verified the database against original assay certificates, and reviewed the results of the company's control samples. Control samples in the laboratory batch containing the results reported herein fell within acceptable statistical tolerances. One certified reference material in a separate batch, containing samples from NB1DD26-004 (22.0 to 44.0 m), returned one value outside acceptance limits; that batch has been submitted for re-analysis and its results will be included in a subsequent news release. There were no material factors or limitations that impacted the reliability of the data disclosed in this news release.

Qualified person

The technical and scientific information in this news release was reviewed and approved by Benjamin Gelber, PGeo, a Consultant of the company and a practicing professional geologist registered with Engineers & Geoscientists British Columbia (EGBC, licence No. 33258), who is a non-independent qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 -- Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Lithium Africa Corp.

Lithium Africa is a capital-efficient lithium exploration and consolidation company assembling a portfolio of hard-rock lithium assets across Africa. Through its 50/50 joint venture with GFL International Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Ganfeng Lithium Group Co. Ltd., the company holds an indirect 50-per-cent interest in lithium exploration projects in Ivory Coast, Guinea, Zimbabwe and Mali. The company also holds a majority interest in the Springbok project in South Africa, which is held outside the joint venture.

We seek Safe Harbor.