Portugal colonising the interior of Africa in the 1850s: Should this be possible?

[dfnehring]

In my current game, I am playing as the UK, and I have reached the mid-1850s. I have reached a level of technological development that allows me to colonise provinces with a life rating of 20 or higher. This still excludes all uncolonised provinces in Africa. Yet Portugal has, over a period of about two years, begun to expand from its initial colonies on the Western coast of Africa and expand into the interior of the continent (see screenshot). In my current save, I have switched to Portugal, to take a look at their level of technological development. I have found it to be considerably below that of the UK. So how is it possible for Portugal to expand its colonies in this way?

 

[Aardvark Bellay]

In my current game, I am playing as the UK, and I have reached the mid-1850s. I have reached a level of technological development that allows me to colonise provinces with a life rating of 20 or higher. This still excludes all uncolonised provinces in Africa. Yet Portugal has, over a period of about two years, begun to expand from its initial colonies on the Western coast of Africa and expand into the interior of the continent (see screenshot). In my current save, I have switched to Portugal, to take a look at their level of technological development. I have found it to be considerably below that of the UK. So how is it possible for Portugal to expand its colonies in this way?

Not sure what you are specifically asking, but i'm not going to explain colonisation in full
if you don't ask for it.

There are a nations that have options to colonise at that point, based on range (bordering or through harbour) and required life rating in the specific state.

Colonization - Victoria 2 Wiki

vic2.paradoxwikis.com

You should have recognised that as the UK or you miss the relevant techs and their inventions.

look at their level of technological development

Which is irrelevant. Specific techs and their inventions are.

I'm lazy and will just copy yand paste the part of the Wiki page explaining this

The following can be colonized from 1850, once the country has Mission to Civilize:

• East Angola and South Angola: More African states that only Portugal will have access to. These are also the only provinces that can be colonized with only Mission to Civilize and without Prophylaxis against Malaria, but you will want Medicine anyway.
• Interior of Australia: In 1836 the United Kingdom has already colonized the entire coast of Australia, so only they get access here.
• Northwest Territories: Part of Canada, only the United Kingdom is likely to have access.
• Etorofu and Shumshu (the Kuril Islands): Like Sakhalin, both Japan and Russia have cores here; unlike Sakhalin, Japan stands a chance of colonizing them if they're quick to westernize and get colonization tech.

 

[dfnehring]

Thank you. This did answer my question. I was wondering what special conditions would allow Portugal to colonise this part of Africa.