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The genus <i>Rhamphempis</i> <b>gen. nov.</b> (Diptera: Empididae: Empidinae: Empidini) is described and includes the following five new species from French Guiana and the USA: <i>Rhamphempis concava</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> (France: French Guiana, Roura); <i>R. distincta</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> (France: French Guiana, Roura); <i>R. mirifica</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> (France: French Guiana, Régina); <i>R. montreuili</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> (Type species, France: French Guiana, Mitaraka, Roura, St-Georges-de-l’Oyapock); and <i>R. septentrionalis</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> (USA: Maryland, College Park). The genus differs from other empidine genera by the following combination of characters: scape and postpedicel lengthened, proboscis long, strongly sclerotised with labella as long as prementum bearing annulations, wing with R₂₊₃ somewhat shortened, more or less recurved at pterostigma, R₄₊₅ unforked, base of abdomen yellowish in male, brownish to blackish in female, male pregenital segments strongly modified and postabdomen more or less downcurved, presence of large surstylus, very fine and long phallus. The genus is fully illustrated and keyed along with a discussion of its peculiar disjunct geographic distribution and its phylogenetic relationship within the tribe Empidini.