Askari Metals (ASX:AS2) says it is positioned to ramp up a comprehensive pipeline of exploration activity after strengthening the foundations of its flagship African growth platform during the quarter ended June 30, 2026.

In its June quarterly report released to shareholders, the company outlined an upcoming program of drilling, trenching, geochemical sampling, mapping and technical work across its projects in Ethiopia and Namibia. The activities are expected to generate steady exploration news flow over the coming quarters.

During the quarter, Askari advanced technical, logistical and stakeholder work programs across its flagship Nejo gold-copper project in Ethiopia and its highly prospective Uis critical metals project in Namibia.

Ethiopia is one of Africa's historically significant gold-producing nations, with a mining sector that has attracted growing international exploration interest despite infrastructure and regulatory challenges in some regions. Namibia, by contrast, is an established mining jurisdiction ranked among Africa's most mining-friendly regulatory environments, with a long track record of production across diamonds, uranium and base metals, and growing attention on its hard-rock pegmatite districts for lithium, tin and tantalum.

Executive Director Gino D'Anna said the company's core objective remains clear: to unlock value from district-scale, under-explored mineral systems in jurisdictions where Askari has built strong in-country relationships, operational knowledge and a growing technical platform.

"Askari is entering a catalyst-rich period across its African portfolio. At Nejo, we have a district-scale gold-copper opportunity with multiple targets ready for drill testing. At Uis, we hold a strategic critical metals position in a proven Namibian pegmatite district," Mr D'Anna said.

"With near-term drilling, strong targets and clear exploration momentum, Askari is well placed to deliver meaningful news flow and unlock value for shareholders."

Mr D'Anna described the June quarter as an important period of consolidation and preparation, positioning the company for a more active field season across both project areas. For a junior explorer with a market capitalisation below $5 million, the transition from groundwork to maiden drilling typically represents a pivotal inflection point, as drill results provide the first direct test of a project's mineral potential.

"Askari's near-term work programs are designed to test high-priority targets, validate historical mineralisation, expand known mineralised corridors and generate the type of exploration news flow that can materially re-rate a small-cap exploration company," he said.

At Nejo, which remains Askari's flagship asset, the company continued to refine its technical understanding of the mineral system and progressed planning for its maiden drilling campaign. The initial program is expected to target high-priority areas within the Guji–Gudeya corridor, including Guji, Komto 1 and Komto 2, which together form a mineralised trend of approximately 9km. These targets offer an opportunity to validate historical high-grade intersections, test continuity and begin defining the geometry of mineralised zones.

Askari also continued to assess the broader Guliso trend, a separate gold-copper corridor extending approximately 10km, as well as the high-grade copper potential at Katta in the northern portion of the project area.

"The company considers these targets to be highly prospective and believes the scale of the broader Nejo landholding provides significant optionality for discovery across gold, copper and associated critical minerals," Mr D'Anna said.

AS2 shares were steady at 0.6 cents with a market capitalisation of $4.689 million.