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Gerhard Launicke (June 2, 1941 in Leipzig - January 23, 2010 in Cottbus) was a German africanist and former diplomat. He was the GDR's ambassador to Uganda, Ruanda and Somalia.

Career
After attending secondary school, Launicke studied at the Karl Marx University Leipzig African Studies. He then worked there as a research assistant and was awarded his doctorate in 1968. In 1969, he took up a position at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the GDR (MfAA). He worked in the Africa Department until 1975. From 1975 to 1978 he was Second Secretary at the GDR Embassy in the Republic of Chad and from 1978 to 1980 Deputy Head of the GDR Embassy in Tanzania.

From 30 October 1980 to June 1983 he was Ambassador to Uganda and from May 1981 to 1983 he was second accredited to Rwanda. From 1986 to 1987, he held the position of Sector Head in the East Africa I Department of the MfAA. From 1 October 1987 to September 1990, he served as GDR Ambassador to Somalia (successor to Herbert Denzler).

Personal life
Launicke was a member of the SED. He was married and had two sons. Launicke last lived in Königs Wusterhausen.

Publications (selection)

 * Einige Bemerkungen zur sozialen und politischen Struktur, sowie zu den rechtlichen und religiösen Verhältnissen in den Feudalstaaten Rwanda und Urundi um die Zeit der kolonialen Eroberung Afrikas. In: Wissenschaftliche Zeitschrift der Karl-Marx-Universität Leipzig (1965), S. 727–736.
 * Zur Geschichte und Sozialstruktur der Staaten Rwanda und Burundi bis zum Ende der deutschen Okkupation (2 Bände). Karl-Marx-Universität Leipzig 1968 (Dissertation).
 * Die Heinrich-Barth-Legende des westdeutschen Neokolonialismus. In: Wissenschaftliche Zeitschrift der Karl-Marx-Universität Leipzig (1969), Heft 3, S. 409–418.
 * Zum antikolonialen Widerstand der Volker Burundis und Rwandas 1897–1916. In: Kurt Büttner, Heinrich Loth (Hrsg.): Philosophie der Eroberer und koloniale Wirklichkeit. Ostafrika 1884–1918. Berlin, Akademie-Verlag 1981, S. 350–368.