BANJUL, Gambia — President Adama Barrow returned triumphantly to Gambia on Thursday, nearly two months after winning an election disputed by the country’s longtime dictator, to the cheers of hundreds of thousands who jammed the roads in welcome.

‘‘That’s my president!’’ some cried, eager to see Barrow fulfill the promise of democratic reforms and new-found freedoms in this tiny West African nation.

The impasse after the Dec. 1 balloting had brought Gambia to the brink of military intervention, as regional leaders vowed to install the democratically elected Barrow despite legal efforts by longtime ruler Yahya Jammeh to overturn the result of the vote. Barrow had flown to Banjul from Senegal, where he had waited for Jammeh to leave Gambia.

‘‘Barrow! Barrow!’’ people shouted from atop vehicles as far as the eye could see at sunset Thursday as the president’s convoy made its way through Banjul. Women danced on minibuses and the sound of drums and music blared in the streets. Spontaneous parties erupted.

Barrow stood out of the roof of his vehicle and waved as he slowly made his way on a tour of the city and back to his home.

‘‘I am a happy man today,’’ Barrow told The Associated Press amid the crush of his arrival. ‘‘I think the bad part is finished now.’’

He promised to get his Cabinet in place and ‘‘then get the ball rolling,’’ adding that a commission would be set up to address reconciliation.

Gambians had eagerly awaited Barrow, who has promised to reverse many of the authoritarian policies of Jammeh. The former leader oversaw a government accused of imprisoning, torturing, and killing his political opponents. Some political prisoners have been released, but the fate of many who have disappeared remains unknown.

‘‘Every Gambian must be free. We suffered for 22 years, but now enough is enough,’’ said Seedia Badjie, 37.

Jammeh, who had been accused of rigging previous elections during his regime, initially called Barrow to concede after the balloting. But when the talk began about whether he could be indicted on war crimes charges, Jammeh shocked the world with a dramatic about-face, saying he would not cede power after all.

The international community, alarmed by Jammeh’s unpredictability, said the election was fair and threw its support behind Barrow, a 51-year-old businessman.

Concerns emerged for Barrow’s safety, and regional mediators urged him to wait for Jammeh’s departure in neighboring Senegal. Ultimately, Barrow was sworn in Jan. 19 at the Gambian Embassy in Dakar, though officials say another celebration will be held in Gambia.

Jammeh finally left Gambia for Equatorial Guinea last weekend, bowing to international pressure and ending his 22-year rule. Troops were poised to oust him if talks failed. Since then, they have been securing the country for Barrow’s arrival.

A larger, more formal ceremony to welcome Barrow home will take place at a later date, spokesman Halifa Sallah said.

Gambia, with nearly 1.9 million people, has become an example in West Africa as the region strives for stable, democratic changes of power. The world watched as Gambians showed they wanted change, supporting opposition parties seeking greater freedoms.