Belnar was a swampy world in the Colonies that was the homeworld of the Khil species. Belnar's marshy terrain was ideal for the Khil, who fed off the abundant bacteria in the air and purpose-built their cities to include large swathes of green space. Belnar was an early member of the Galactic Republic, and the openness of Khil society allowed not only for offworlders to be welcome on Belnar, but for the Khil to spread out and colonize many other worlds throughout the galaxy. Belnar's democratic tradition led many Khil to regard the Galactic Empire as evil and oppressive after it supplanted the Republic in 19 BBY, leading the Empire to suspect the Khil of treason—the planet swiftly joined the New Republic after the Empire's defeat in the Galactic Civil War.