René Lemarchand (born 1932) is a French-American political scientist who is known for his research on ethnic conflict and genocide in Rwanda, Burundi and Darfur.

Since retiring he has worked for USAID (Agency for International Development, Department of State) out of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire as a Regional Consultant for West Africa in Governance and Democracy, and as Democracy and Governance advisor to USAID / Ghana.

He completed his Ph.D. at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), specializing in studies of Central Africa.

He has specialized in political issues in African nations, especially ethnic conflicts leading to warfare, and has published works in both French and English.

[2] In July 1971, while on a two-month research trip to Chad, Lemarchand was arrested and charged with visiting a restricted zone and failing to respond to a summons by the country's president.