Solomahal was a general within the Galactic Republic's military forces. During the Clone Wars, a conflict between the Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, Solomahal allied with the Thyrsus Sun Guard, a mercenary group.
The character of Solomahal was initially referenced within Collapse of the Republic, a canon Star Wars reference book released in 2019.
Originally, Solomahal was conceptualized as one of two Lutrillians intended as background extras for the cantina scene featured in 1977's Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. John Mollo designed this character, and Stuart Freeborn created his mask for filming in England. The only difference between the two costumes was that one of the extras wore an ascot. The A New Hope production team referred to at least one of these Lutrillians as the Colonel, and at least one as the Hare Mouse. One or both of these characters were intended to be named Ownellco. However, in Star Wars Insider 130's Rogues Gallery: The Usual Suspects: Who's Who in Mos Eisley, published in December 2011, it was retconned that the Lutrillians seen in A New Hope were Ownellco and Atheloe.
Later, one of the Lutrillian masks was reused in the cantina scenes of The Star Wars Holiday Special, which marked Solomahal's on-screen debut. The character remained unused and unmentioned until 1997, when the Star Wars Customizable Card Game identified him as "Solomahal, a veteran officer of the Old Republic."