African Aura Mining Inc. ("African Aura" or the "Company") the TSX-V (AUR) and AIM (AAAM) listed exploration to production company with divisions focused on iron ore and gold in sub-Saharan Africa announces that a first phase 4,200m initial resource definition drilling programme commenced on 25th July 2010 at the Company's 100% owned Nkout iron ore project in southern Cameroon. 

African Aura has three principal iron ore projects in Cameroon, namely the Nkout, Ngoa and Akom Hills and considers that their combined dimensions represent a potentially significant iron ore asset. The Nkout iron ore project is located on the 489km2 Djoum licence which is held by the Company's 100% owned subsidiary Caminex SARL. 

Nkout is defined by a major geophysical anomaly co-incident with a significant range of hills with at least 8km of strike length. There are a further 12km of targets existing around Nkout which are considered to be moderately magnetic. Previous grab sampling at Nkout returned up to 68% Fe and averaged 55% Fe from 55 samples. A phase one 4,200m 10 hole resource definition drilling programme commenced in July 2010. 

The sub-region of southern Cameroon, Gabon and the Republic of Congo hosts a number of substantial iron deposits, which are currently under exploration and development including the 2.5 Bt Mbalam deposit, located approximately 150km southeast of Nkout, which is under development by Sundance Resources Limited. The proposed railroad from Mbalam to the proposed Atlantic port of Lolabe in southern Cameroon, passes within 30km of the Company's Nkout project. 

Luis da Silva, President & CEO of African Aura commented: "Having recently announced the highly encouraging results from the airborne geophysical survey at Nkout in southern Cameroon, it is very pleasing to already be commencing the initial resource definition drill programme. The current 10 hole programme is designed to refine the geological model and to progress the project towards a maiden iron ore resource in 2010. Drilling will then continue within the current approved budget up to a total of 8,000m as part of the phase 2 programme. We look forward to updating shareholders on progress in due course during 4Q 2010."