The Imperial Instruments of Surrender represented the official cessation of hostilities when the Galactic Empire surrendered. This event signified the conclusion of the Galactic Civil War with the New Republic. Following the Battle of Jakku in 5 ABY, Chancellor Mon Mothma and Grand Vizier Mas Amedda signed the Instruments. This agreement initiated a truce between the warring parties, paving the way for a permanent resolution and a decrease in the Empire's influence. The defeated Empire was obligated to adhere to the stipulations of the Galactic Concordance. Mon Mothma also made a proclamation classifying all remaining Imperial officers as war criminals, while offering conditional amnesty to civilian personnel, including Mas Amedda, contingent on their adherence to the Galactic Concordance's terms.
However, the Imperial Navy was uniquely permitted to maintain its cohesion, provided it remained within the boundaries of the Imperial remnant. Certain officers chose not to accept the terms of surrender, instead withdrawing to the outer regions of the galaxy where they formed another faction. These officers, considered war criminals, maintained a state of military readiness, contributing to a Cold War dynamic between the unyielding Imperial loyalists and the New Republic.
The location of the Imperial Instruments of Surrender's signing was just north of Hanna City, which served as the capital city on the planet of Chandrila.