What happened to Mon Mothma after Return of the Jedi?
By Connor Pass
If you’ve only seen the film then you might remember that red-haired woman from Return of the Jedi who led the briefing about the second Death Star. Or perhaps you recall her from Rouge One when she spoke briefly with Jyn Erso on Yavin 4.
Those who have delved into the shows and books know that she is the leader of the Rebel Alliance and one of its founding members. Who is this woman? She is Mon Mothma. But what exactly happened to her after Return of the Jedi?
After the Battle of Endor and the Emperor’s death, she helped to create the New Republic government system. With Leia Organa at her side, she forged ahead and continued to lead the Rebellion in the months after Endor. It was on her home planet of Chandrila where the newly formed senate was established. She would then go on to become the first chancellor of this new senate. her main goals consisted of demilitarizing the New Republic and leaving the defense of member worlds to themselves instead of relying on the New Republic fleet.
After the Battle of Jakku, she oversaw the signing of the Imperial surrender by Mas Amedda and then further issued a declaration, declaring all surviving Imperial officers as war criminals. It was then that she was finally able to pass her act demilitarizing the New Republic. She also established a system where the senate’s capital would rotate through each member’s world.
Later in her life, she fell ill and was forced to step down as chancellor. As a result, the senate divided into two factions, the Populists and the Centrists. In a way she was partly responsible for the rise of the First Order, leaving the New Republic in a weakened state.
Mon Mothma is set to appear in Andor where we will likely see her begin to plant the seeds that will eventually grow into the Rebellion.